Senate Bill No. 2361 proposes the transfer of the University of Houston--Victoria to The Texas A&M University System, renaming it Texas A&M University--Victoria. The bill establishes a new subchapter in the Education Code that outlines the governance and operational structure of the new university, with oversight from the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System. It ensures that current students and employees retain their status and benefits during the transition, while also maintaining existing rules and policies until amended by the new board. The bill includes provisions for the management of gifts, grants, and appropriated funds, as well as the continuation of tuition and fees until new amounts are set.

Additionally, the bill amends the Education Code to grant the board of regents the authority to issue bonds for the new university, with a cap on the total amount not exceeding previous authorizations for the University of Houston--Victoria. It allows for the pledge of revenue funds, including student tuition, to secure these bonds and facilitates the transfer of funds among institutions within the system. The bill repeals certain sections of the Education Code and requires the boards of regents to create a memorandum of understanding by June 1, 2025, detailing the transition process. The effective date for the act is September 1, 2025, and it allocates $3,649,703 to Texas A&M University--Victoria, which was previously removed from the University of Houston--Victoria's funding.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.5405, Education Code 54.5406, Education Code 55.1723, Education Code 55.1733, Education Code 55.1753, Education Code 55.1783, Education Code 55.1793, Education Code 62.021 (Education Code 62, Education Code 55, Education Code 54)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 54.5405, Education Code 54.5406, Education Code 55.1723, Education Code 55.1733, Education Code 55.1753, Education Code 55.1783, Education Code 55.1793, Education Code 62.021 (Education Code 62, Education Code 55, Education Code 54)