SB2431

Regular Session

Relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad components or programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: 2026-2027 Academic Year (Operational deadline is Spring 2026 for course catalog finalization).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is required to adopt rules prescribing the "manner" of credit and defining applicable programs prior to the 2026-2027 academic year. Expect a regulatory gray zone between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 while these definitions are finalized.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Immediate Audit: Generate a list of all 2026-2027 study abroad locations and identify which currently lack a foreign language credit mechanism.
2. Contract Review: Issue notices to third-party vendors regarding the new statutory requirement to determine their capacity to support language instruction.
3. Monitor Rulemaking: Assign Government Relations staff to track THECB dockets specifically for definitions regarding program duration ("Component") and credit methodology.
4. Draft Disclosures: Create the student waiver/election form to be integrated into the registration portal by Spring 2026.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Third-Party Vendors: Review MSAs with study abroad providers (e.g., CIEE, IES, local NGOs). You must add addenda requiring them to facilitate language instruction or provide certified proficiency assessments compatible with Texas transfer standards.
Foreign Exchange MOUs: Renegotiate Memoranda of Understanding with partner universities to ensure visiting Texas students have access to language courses that meet your institution's specific credit hour requirements.

Hiring/Training

Faculty Credentials: If the credit is faculty-led rather than transfer credit, the accompanying faculty member must meet SACSCOC credentialing standards for foreign language instruction, or a qualified local instructor must be hired.
Academic Advising: Advisors must be retrained to affirmatively offer this credit option during the study abroad registration process.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Student Election Forms: Implement a mandatory "Election of Credit" form for every student traveling to a non-English speaking destination. The student must explicitly opt-in or waive the foreign language credit. This is your primary defense against compliance audits.
Curriculum Audit: Maintain a master list of all study abroad programs mapped to their corresponding foreign language course codes.

Fees & Costs

Curriculum Development: Budget for faculty time to map foreign experiences to existing language course outcomes.
Assessment Fees: If using proficiency exams (e.g., CLEP, OPI) to award credit post-trip, determine if the institution or the student absorbs the testing fees.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The statute leaves critical operational details to the THECB. Watch the upcoming rulemaking docket for:

Definition of "Component": It is currently unclear if short-term, faculty-led trips (e.g., 10-14 days) trigger this requirement, or if it applies strictly to semester-long programs.
"Manner" of Credit: The THECB must define if "seat time" (classroom hours abroad) is required, or if credit-by-examination upon return satisfies the statute.
"Primarily Spoken": The agency must clarify if programs in high-English proficiency cities (e.g., Berlin, Amsterdam) are exempt or included based on the national language.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsEducation Education--higher Education--higher--institutions & Programs Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Education--higher--curriculum

Official Analysis

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BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2431
89R9002 CMO-D	By: Campbell
	Education K-16
	3/31/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Learning a foreign language is a valuable skill that can give college students an advantage in seeking employment. According to a 2021 report by the Modern Language Association, the amount of college students in the United States learning a foreign language other than English fell to 1.2 million, which is a 30 percent drop since 2009. Additionally, The University of Texas at Austin reported that between 2014 and 2024, foreign language enrollment decreased by 11 percent.

This decrease in foreign language enrollment could significantly harm U.S. national� security and the U.S. economy. For example, due to the lack of proficient Arabic speakers before 9/11, federal intelligence agencies such as the FBI had a lack of translators, which caused massive delays in translating surveillance information before the attacks on September 11th. Additionally, according to a recent report by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), one out of four U.S. employers lost business due to a lack of foreign language skills.

This statistic shows that the lack of professionals in the private sector with foreign language skills could significantly weaken the U.S. economy.

This legislation seeks to address the decrease in foreign language enrollment in institutions of higher education by providing an option for students to participate in study abroad programs, while simultaneously earning foreign language credit to achieve proficiency in a foreign language. Promoting the study of foreign languages abroad will equip college students with highly sought after skills that will benefit employers in both the public and private sectors, ultimately strengthening the Texas workforce, the Texas economy, and U.S. national security.

Legislative Intent

S.B. 2431 requires institutions of higher education in the state of Texas, both public and private, to build on existing study abroad programs and have an option where a student participating in a study abroad program can receive the allotted foreign language credit required by that institution to meet proficiency.

Key Provisions:

1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 51, of the Texas Education Code by adding Section 51.313 which assigns "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" the meanings assigned by Section 61.003 of the Texas Education Code.

2. Delegates authority to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish procedures and adopt rules to implement this section.

As proposed, S.B. 2431 amends current law relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.313, Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.313, as follows:

Sec. 51.313. STUDY ABROAD: FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY. (a) Defines "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education."

(b) Requires an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education that, through any baccalaureate degree program, offers a study abroad program in a location where a language other than English is primarily spoken, for the purpose of providing the opportunity for students to gain proficiency in a foreign language, to provide an option that allows a student enrolled in the study abroad program to earn foreign language credit as part of that program.

(c) Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish procedures and adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Provides that Section 51.313, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025�2026 academic year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Donna CampbellRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Donna HowardDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 2431

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for
	students enrolled in study abroad components or programs offered by
	certain institutions of higher education 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 51.313 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.313. STUDY ABROAD: FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.
	(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
	meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
	(b) For the purpose of providing the opportunity for
	students to gain proficiency in a foreign language, an institution
	of higher education that, through any baccalaureate degree program,
	offers a study abroad component or program in a location where a
	language other than English is primarily spoken shall provide, in
	accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (c), an option that
	allows a student enrolled in the study abroad component or program
	to earn foreign language credit as part of that component or
	program.
	(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
	adopt rules as necessary to implement this section, including rules
	that:
	(1) define the study abroad components or programs to
	which this section applies; and
	(2) prescribe the manner in which a student may earn
	foreign language credit as part of a component or program described
	by Subdivision (1).
	SECTION 2. Section 51.313, Education Code, as added by this
	Act, applies beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year.
	SECTION 3. 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


April 2, 2025

TO:	Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Education K-16

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB2431 by Campbell (Relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.), 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:

710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 717 Texas Southern University, 719 Texas State Technical College System Administration, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration, 966 Howard College, 978 San Jacinto College

LBB Staff:

JMc, FV, LBO, GO

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB2431

What does Texas SB2431 do?

SB2431 mandates that, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, all Texas public institutions of higher education must provide students the option to earn foreign language credit for any study abroad program located in a non-English speaking country. This requirement forces immediate curriculum restructuring and the renegotiation of Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with third-party education providers to ensure credit-bearing language components are available. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: 2026-2027 Academic Year (Operational deadline is Spring 2026 for course catalog finalization).

Who authored SB2431?

SB2431 was authored by Texas Senator Donna Campbell during the Regular Session.

When was SB2431 signed into law?

SB2431 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB2431?

SB2431 is enforced by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

How urgent is compliance with SB2431?

The compliance urgency for SB2431 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB2431?

The cost impact of SB2431 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB2431 address?

SB2431 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--institutions & programs, higher education coordinating board, texas and education--higher--curriculum.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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