Bill > HB3452

This bill modifies the rules for criminal and disciplinary history inquiries on undergraduate college applications in Texas. Specifically, the bill restricts the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board from including most criminal and disciplinary history questions on standard application forms. However, institutions are still permitted to request information about specific serious offenses, including convictions related to stalking, sex offender registration, family violence, certain violent crimes (murder, kidnapping, assault), pending criminal charges, and disciplinary history involving stalking, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or dating violence. The bill limits criminal history inquiries to offenses committed within the past 10 years for certain violent crimes and allows higher education institutions to request additional information beyond the standard application form, with the caveat that such requests cannot include prohibited criminal or disciplinary history questions. These changes will apply to undergraduate admissions applications starting with the 2026 spring semester, and the bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, aiming to provide more opportunities for applicants with past criminal histories while still maintaining provisions for serious offenses.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3452