H.B. No. 4701 amends the Education Code to update the criteria for college admissions at certain public institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill stipulates that applicants who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class can gain admission if they meet specific requirements. Notably, the bill introduces a new provision that allows applicants to qualify by achieving a score set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on a designated college entrance examination, replacing the previous requirement of meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks or achieving a minimum SAT score of 1,500.

Additionally, the bill modifies the admissions process for students who do not qualify under the existing criteria. It allows these students to apply if they have completed the necessary curriculum requirements or achieved the new college entrance examination score set by the Coordinating Board. The changes will take effect for admissions starting in the fall semester of 2026, while admissions for earlier terms will continue to follow the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 39.0261, Education Code 51.803, Education Code 54.241 (Education Code 39, Education Code 51, Education Code 54)
House Committee Report: Education Code 51.803, Education Code 54.241 (Education Code 39, Education Code 51, Education Code 54)