H.B. No. 2853, introduced by Perez of El Paso and sponsored in the Senate by Blanco, amends the Education Code regarding student union building fees at The University of Texas at El Paso. The bill allows the board of regents to levy a student union fee for financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving the student union building, including the demolition of the existing building. The previous fee limits of $30 per student for regular semesters and $15 for summer sessions have been removed, but any increase in the fee cannot exceed 10 percent of the amount charged in the previous academic year unless approved by a majority of students participating in a general election.

The bill specifies that the new fee structure will take effect starting with the student union fees collected for the 2026 spring semester and will be in addition to any other fees the board is authorized to impose. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.535 (Education Code 54)
House Committee Report: Education Code 54.535 (Education Code 54)
Engrossed: Education Code 54.535 (Education Code 54)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 54.535 (Education Code 54)