Bill > HB1454

This bill prohibits institutions of higher education in Texas from offering tuition or fee waivers or reductions based on financial hardship, specifically preventing waivers that consider a student's, their household's, or legal guardian's income. The legislation creates two key exceptions: first, scholarships or grants awarded under Chapter 56 of the Education Code are not affected, and second, institutions can still waive tuition and fees for courses that are fully funded by federal or other sources. For fully funded courses, if a governing board chooses to waive tuition and fees, they must do so uniformly for all students in good academic standing, without considering financial circumstances. The bill also repeals several existing sections of the Education Code related to tuition waivers and includes provisions to repeal specific sections of Sections 54.261, 54.262, 54.5061(g), and 54.513(h). These changes will take effect for the fall semester of 2026, with the overall act becoming effective on January 1, 2026, potentially impacting how higher education institutions in Texas approach financial assistance for students.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1454