H.B. No. 2853 amends Section 54.535 of the Education Code to adjust the student union building fees at The University of Texas at El Paso. The bill allows the board of regents to levy a fee not exceeding $150 per student for each semester or term of 10 weeks or more, and $75 for any other semester or term. Additionally, it introduces specific fee limits for the semesters leading up to the 2026 fall semester, capping fees at $70 and $35 respectively, and for the 2026-2027 academic year, capping them at $120 and $60. The bill also stipulates that any fee increase must not exceed 10% of the previous year's fee unless approved by a majority of students participating in a general election.

The new provisions include a sunset clause, with the specific fee limits set to expire on September 1, 2027. The amended fee structure will take effect starting with the student union fees collected for the 2026 spring semester. This legislation aims to provide a framework for financing the construction, operation, and maintenance of the student union building, including the demolition of the existing structure.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.535 (Education Code 54)