The bill, H.B. No. 2893, seeks to amend the Education Code to allow certain public junior colleges in Texas to offer baccalaureate degree programs under specific conditions. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is granted the authority to authorize these programs if the junior college offers a degree in applied science or education and demonstrates a workforce need for the program. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum number of baccalaureate degree programs a public junior college can offer from five to eight.

The changes outlined in the bill will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year. The bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 130.303, Education Code 130.306 (Education Code 130)