HB2856

Regular Session

Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the feasibility of implementing a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025
Compliance Deadline: None immediately. The critical window for industry influence is between now and December 1, 2026 (Report Deadline).
Agency Rulemaking: The THECB is not currently issuing rules but is entering a "data gathering" phase. Expect Requests for Information (RFIs) or stakeholder hearings regarding placement capacity and costs through late 2026.

Immediate Action Plan

Audit Administrative Costs: Calculate your current internal cost per student placement to benchmark against future state estimates.
Review Exclusivity: Identify which university partnerships rely on exclusive access to your clinical slots and prepare to defend these arrangements if the state moves toward "open access" portals.
Engage with THECB: Monitor the Coordinating Board’s agenda for hearings related to HB2856 and be prepared to submit testimony regarding the efficiency of your current decentralized systems.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Review existing Clinical Affiliation Agreements and software vendor contracts. Specifically, identify termination clauses in multi-year contracts with third-party placement platforms (e.g., rotation tracking software), as a state-mandated portal in 2027 could render these services redundant or non-compliant.

Hiring/Training

No new certifications or staffing are required. However, organizations should designate a specific liaison (Government Affairs or Clinical Coordinator) to monitor THECB announcements and respond to state inquiries regarding placement capacity.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

The law does not mandate reporting yet. However, to protect your interests, voluntarily aggregate internal data regarding:

1. Annual student rotation volume.
2. Administrative hours spent coordinating placements.
3. Rejection rates due to capacity constraints.

This data will be essential to challenge or support the THECB's feasibility findings.

Fees & Costs

There are no immediate fee changes. The study will estimate the cost of establishing the portals; businesses should watch for recommendations on whether these costs will be subsidized by the state or passed to facilities via user fees.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The scope of "Regional Portals" remains undefined. It is unclear if the state intends to build a simple scheduling interface or a comprehensive compliance clearinghouse (handling background checks and immunizations). Furthermore, the study does not clarify if future participation will be mandatory, which creates significant uncertainty for hospitals that currently rely on exclusive, private pipelines with specific universities.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsEducation Education--higher Education--higher--health Institutions Health Care Providers Interim Studies Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2856

By: Howard

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author informed the committee that, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036 there will be a shortage of licensed vocational nurses in North Texas, Central Texas, and the Gulf Coast. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies reports that there are two pinch points in the nursing pipeline: a lack of clinical spaces and a lack of faculty positions and applicants. H.B. 2856 seeks to address these issues by directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education who require clinical training.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2856 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education who require clinical training. The bill requires the study to determine the following:

·the number of regions needed to adequately support institutions of higher education and students that require clinical training;

·the cost of establishing regional portals; and

·the necessary maintenance, support, and staff required to establish and maintain the regional portals.

The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of each standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a written report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Donna HowardDemocrat · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Vincent Perez (D)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 2856

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
	Board on the feasibility of implementing a statewide system for
	coordinating clinical training placements.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 61.09012 to read as follows:
	Sec. 61.09012. STUDY ON CLINICAL TRAINING PLACEMENTS FOR
	STUDENTS. (a) The board shall conduct a study on the feasibility
	of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical
	rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in
	institutions of higher education who require clinical training.
	(b) The study must determine:
	(1) the number of regions needed to adequately support
	institutions of higher education and students that require clinical
	training;
	(2) the cost of establishing regional portals; and
	(3) the necessary maintenance, support, and staff
	required to establish and maintain the regional portals.
	(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 chair of each standing committee with
	primary jurisdiction over higher education a written report that
	includes the study's findings and any 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.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 31, 2025

TO:	Honorable Terry M. Wilson, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB2856 by Howard (Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the feasibility of implementing a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

781 Higher Education Coordinating Board

LBB Staff:

JMc, FV, LBO, GO

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2856

What does Texas HB2856 do?

HB2856 mandates the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a feasibility study on centralizing clinical training placements through state-run regional portals. While this law imposes no immediate operational mandates on healthcare facilities or educational institutions, it signals a legislative intent to regulate the clinical placement marketplace, potentially disrupting exclusive affiliation agreements and third-party vendor contracts by the 2027 legislative session. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 Compliance Deadline: None immediately.

Who authored HB2856?

HB2856 was authored by Texas Representative Donna Howard during the Regular Session.

When was HB2856 signed into law?

HB2856 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB2856?

HB2856 is enforced by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

How urgent is compliance with HB2856?

The compliance urgency for HB2856 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB2856?

The cost impact of HB2856 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB2856 address?

HB2856 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--health institutions, health care providers and interim studies.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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