H.B. No. 5515 amends Section 31.151(a) of the Education Code to impose new restrictions on the pricing of instructional materials for public schools in Texas. The bill mandates that publishers or manufacturers must not include freight and shipping costs in the price of instructional materials that exceed the actual delivery cost, as determined by the carrier's standard rate. Additionally, any handling or similar charges that are not directly related to the shipment of the materials are prohibited from being included in the pricing. This new provision is aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the pricing of educational resources.

The bill also makes several adjustments to the existing requirements for publishers and manufacturers, including the removal of previous clauses and the addition of new ones that enhance accountability. For instance, the bill retains the obligation for publishers to guarantee the quality of instructional materials and to provide accurate shipping dates for back-ordered items. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, following the bill's passage in both the House and Senate with overwhelming support.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 31.151 (Education Code 31)
House Committee Report: Education Code 31.151 (Education Code 31)
Engrossed: Education Code 31.151 (Education Code 31)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 31.151 (Education Code 31)
Enrolled: Education Code 31.151 (Education Code 31)