HB 299

89R5381 CMO-D
		By: Meza
  H.B. No. 299
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to a study by the Legislative Budget Board concerning the
  long-term effects of regulating tuition rates and amounts charged
  by public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 322.0166 to read as follows:
         Sec. 322.0166.  STUDY CONCERNING REGULATION OF TUITION.  (a)
  In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
         (b)  The board shall conduct a study to examine the long-term
  costs, benefits, and other effects of any legislative action that
  may be taken to regulate the rates and amounts of tuition charged by
  institutions of higher education, including by repealing the
  statutory authority of those institutions to establish tuition
  rates as they determine appropriate.  The study may explore all
  topics relevant to the matter, but in assessing the effects of
  regulation, the study must strive to strike a balance between
  promoting the affordability and accessibility of higher education
  in this state and the institutions' need for sufficient revenue to
  maintain educational quality for students and competitiveness with
  other institutions outside this state.  In the study, the board
  shall:
               (1)  recommend to the legislature an appropriate rate
  or rates of tuition for institutions of higher education compared
  to the rates currently established by the institutions;
               (2)  evaluate the potential effects of regulating
  tuition rates and amounts on student access to higher education
  opportunities in this state, including the effect on enrollment by
  disadvantaged or underrepresented Texans, and the potential
  effects on affordability, student financial aid, and student loan
  debt;
               (3)  estimate the potential loss or gain of funding or
  revenue by the institutions as a result of any repeal of the
  existing statutory authority of those institutions to establish
  tuition rates; and
               (4)  if the board projects that regulating tuition
  rates and amounts would result in a loss of revenue under
  Subdivision (3):
                     (A)  identify any sources of funding or revenue,
  such as institutional endowments, that would be available or
  necessary to offset the projected decrease in revenue; and
                     (B)  recommend a specific portion or amount of
  endowment money that could be used to offset the reduced tuition
  revenues.
         (c)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing
  legislative committee having jurisdiction over higher education or
  state appropriations a report on the results of the study and the
  board's recommendations for legislative or other action.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2025.