BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 102

By: Wilson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The author has informed the committee that certain students in military-related programs at public institutions of higher education can experience challenges aligning course schedules with the demands of their respective programs and that granting those students priority in course registration could help ensure these future service members complete their degrees on time, setting them up for success. C.S.H.B. 102 seeks to address this issue by requiring applicable institutions of higher education to provide early registration for courses or programs for students who are enrolled and in good standing in or are members in good standing in certain military-related programs.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 102 amends the Education Code to require a public institution of higher education that provides early registration for courses or programs for any group of students to provide early registration for those courses or programs for students who meet any of the following:

·are enrolled and in good standing in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program;

·are members in good standing in a corps of cadets, including a corps of cadets at a senior military college; or

·are enrolled and in good standing in a maritime academy.

The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in consultation with public institutions of higher education, to adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer this requirement.

C.S.H.B. 102 applies beginning with registration for a course or program for the 2026 spring semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 102 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

While both the introduced and the substitute require the THECB to adopt rules as necessary to administer the bill's requirement, the substitute also includes implementation of the requirement as a purpose of that rule adoption, which was not included in the introduced.