The bill amends the Education Code to regulate the information that can be requested from applicants for undergraduate admission to public institutions of higher education in Texas. Specifically, it prohibits the inclusion of an applicant's criminal history or disciplinary history from primary or secondary schools and postsecondary institutions on application forms, except for certain specified offenses. These include convictions for stalking, sex offenses requiring registration as a sex offender, family violence, and serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and assault if they occurred within the last ten years. Additionally, it allows for the inclusion of pending criminal charges and disciplinary history related to serious offenses like stalking and sexual assault.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that institutions may still request additional information from applicants, provided it does not include the prohibited information outlined in the new provisions. The changes will take effect for applications submitted for the spring semester of 2026, with the law becoming effective on September 1, 2025. This legislation aims to create a more equitable admissions process by limiting the impact of certain past behaviors on applicants' chances for admission.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 51.762, Education Code 51.763 (Education Code 51)