The bill, S.B. No. 1419, amends the Texas Education Code to enhance the Texas Leadership Scholars Program. It introduces a new definition for "Eligible Institution," specifying that it refers to any general academic teaching institution as defined in Section 61.003. Additionally, the bill modifies the rules regarding research scholarships, stating that the amount of a research scholarship must be at least 150 percent of a leadership scholarship. It also establishes that students can receive scholarships under either program for a maximum of four years and mandates that each eligible institution must receive at least one research scholarship award, with additional awards distributed based on the number of research doctoral degrees conferred by each institution.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to ensure that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not adopt rules that limit participation in the program to certain institutions or give preference to students from specific institutions. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 61.891, Education Code 61.897 (Education Code 61)