Senate Bill No. 1835 amends Section 54.213 of the Education Code to establish new criteria for the maximum number of nonresident scholarship students allowed to pay resident tuition and fees at certain public institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill introduces new subsections that specify eligibility for nonresident students, including those who are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, holders of valid nonimmigrant visas, or otherwise lawfully present in the U.S. Additionally, it sets limits on the number of students paying resident tuition, allowing up to five percent of the total student body for most institutions, or up to 20 percent for institutions in specific workforce development areas experiencing lower population growth, provided they meet certain capacity requirements.

The bill also mandates that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopt necessary rules to implement these changes. The new provisions will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, and the bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.213 (Education Code 54)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 54.213 (Education Code 54)
Engrossed: Education Code 54.213 (Education Code 54)
House Committee Report: Education Code 54.213 (Education Code 54)