The bill, H.B. No. 2839, proposes amendments to Section 54.341(a) of the Education Code regarding tuition and fee exemptions for certain military personnel at public institutions of higher education in Texas. The amendments remove specific residency requirements for individuals seeking these exemptions, including the stipulation that they must have entered military service at a location in Texas or declared Texas as their home of record. The bill continues to provide exemptions for various groups of honorably discharged military personnel, including those who served during significant historical conflicts such as World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and other designated military operations.

The changes outlined in the bill will take effect starting with tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any charges prior to that will be governed by the existing law. The bill also stipulates that it will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.341 (Education Code 54)