The bill, titled S.B. No. 1322, establishes a new framework for the accreditation of public institutions of higher education in Texas by adding Subchapter G-1 to Chapter 51 of the Education Code. It creates the Texas Higher Education Accreditation Commission, which will be responsible for identifying and approving accrediting agencies, conducting evaluations of these agencies, and ensuring that institutions of higher education seek accreditation from approved agencies with satisfactory performance ratings. The commission will consist of nine members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house, and will be accountable to the governor. The bill outlines the criteria for evaluating accrediting agencies, including their focus on educational and labor market outcomes for students.

Additionally, the bill mandates that institutions of higher education must obtain accreditation from an approved agency at their own expense and outlines the consequences for noncompliance, including the withholding of state funding. The commission is also required to publish evaluation standards and reports on the performance of accrediting agencies. The provisions of the bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and the commission is expected to identify and approve accrediting agencies by September 1, 2026.

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