Senate Bill No. 1798 aims to amend the Education Code regarding resident status, tuition rates, and financial support for students at public institutions of higher education in Texas, particularly addressing students not lawfully present in the United States. The bill introduces a new section, 51.3526, which mandates that governing boards of higher education institutions ensure that no financial support, including scholarships and grants, is awarded to individuals not authorized to be present in the U.S. Additionally, institutions must submit compliance reports to the legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the state auditor will conduct periodic audits to ensure adherence to these regulations.

The bill also modifies existing provisions related to the determination of resident status. It removes previous criteria for residency that included students who graduated from Texas high schools and introduces a clear stipulation that individuals not authorized under federal law cannot be considered residents for tuition purposes. Furthermore, it establishes that institutions may reclassify students based on new information affecting their residency status and outlines the liabilities for students who are misclassified. The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, with specific provisions applying to state funding beginning in the 2026 fiscal year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.052, Education Code 54.053, Education Code 54.055, Education Code 54.056, Education Code 54.057, Education Code 54.0601 (Education Code 54)