H.B. No. 300 amends the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program to enhance the scholarship amount and eligibility requirements for students. The bill establishes that the scholarship amount for an academic year will be the greater of $30,000 or the average cost of attendance at a Texas institution of higher education, replacing the previous cap of $15,000. Additionally, it modifies the eligibility criteria for students to receive an initial scholarship, requiring them to be enrolled in a public or private institution and to either complete or provide proof of completion of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or another officer commissioning program, including acceptance into the Texas State Guard's officer commissioning program.

The bill also introduces a scholarship coordinator role within the board to serve as a liaison for scholarship recipients and to coordinate with financial aid offices and military personnel. It specifies that the governor and lieutenant governor must appoint students for the scholarship by September 30 each year, with provisions for filling vacancies if appointments are not made on time. Furthermore, the bill outlines the conditions under which students must repay the scholarship and allows for exemptions from repayment due to physical inability or extraordinary circumstances. The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 61.9771, Education Code 61.9772, Education Code 61.9773, Education Code 61.9775 (Education Code 61)
House Committee Report: Education Code 61.9771, Education Code 61.9772, Education Code 61.9773, Education Code 61.9775 (Education Code 61)
Engrossed: Education Code 61.9771, Education Code 61.9772, Education Code 61.9773, Education Code 61.9775 (Education Code 61)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 61.9771, Education Code 61.9772, Education Code 61.9773, Education Code 61.9775 (Education Code 61)
Enrolled: Education Code 61.9771, Education Code 61.9772, Education Code 61.9773, Education Code 61.9775 (Education Code 61)