HB 291

By: Bonnen
  H.B. No. 291
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic
  standards, and employment decisions in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.3095 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.3095.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION
  COURSEWORK AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVISIONS.  (a)  In this section,
  "medical school" means:
               (1)  a medical school as defined by Section 61.501; or
               (2)  any other institution of higher education, as
  defined by Section 61.003, or school, department, or college of
  such an institution, that awards medical degrees.
         (b)  Each medical school shall ensure that at least 50
  percent of the coursework offered in the curriculum required for a
  medical degree or certificate assesses a student's performance on
  the coursework based on the assignment of a letter grade from A to F
  or a tiered system with at least four designations.
         (c)  Except as required to comply with state or federal law,
  a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the award
  of a degree or certificate unless the medical school submits to the
  legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
               (1)  a copy of the proposed standards;
               (2)  a concise general statement of the reasons for the
  proposed standards; and
               (3)  the date on which the proposed standards would
  become effective.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter W, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.8425 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.8425.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL
  SCHOOL ADMISSION.  (a)  In this section, "medical school" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.
         (b)  In making admissions decisions for a medical degree or
  certificate program, a medical school shall consider an applicant's
  performance on a standardized test appropriate for the program that
  focuses on knowledge of and critical thinking applicable to science
  and medical practice, except that the applicant's performance on
  the standardized test may not be used as the sole criterion for
  consideration of the applicant.
         (c)  Except as required to comply with state or federal law,
  a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the
  admission of a student to the medical school or to a degree or
  certificate program unless the medical school submits to the
  legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
               (1)  a copy of the proposed standards;
               (2)  a concise general statement of the reasons for the
  proposed standards; and
               (3)  the date on which the proposed standards would
  become effective.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9247 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9247.  CONSIDERATION OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY,
  OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
  DECISIONS PROHIBITED.  (a)  In this section, "medical school" has
  the meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a medical
  school may not grant preference on the basis of race, sex, color,
  ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant:
               (1)  for admission to the medical school or to a degree
  or certificate program; or
               (2)  for employment by the medical school.
         (c)  Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting
  bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary
  to the normal operation of a medical school.
         SECTION 4.  Section 51.3095(b), Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to coursework offered to students who
  initially enroll in a medical school for the 2026 fall semester or a
  subsequent academic term.
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act to admissions
  at medical schools apply beginning with admissions for the 2026
  fall semester.  Admissions for an academic period preceding that
  semester are governed by the law in effect immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  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.