Senate Bill No. 1424 seeks to amend the Education Code to allow the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to authorize certain public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs. The bill specifies that a public junior college may be authorized to offer these programs if it provides a degree in applied science (with an emphasis on early childhood education, applied technology, or nursing) or in the field of education, and demonstrates a workforce need for the program. Additionally, the bill limits the number of baccalaureate degree programs a public junior college can offer to eight, an increase from the previous limit of five.

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 Texas Legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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