Bill > HB5294

This bill introduces three key provisions for medical schools in Texas, focusing on educational standards, admissions, and employment practices. First, the bill requires that at least 50% of medical school coursework be graded using traditional letter grades or a comparable tiered system, and mandates that any proposed changes to academic standards must be submitted to the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with a detailed explanation. Second, the bill stipulates that medical school admissions must consider standardized test performance as part of the application process, but cannot use test scores as the sole criterion for admission. Third, the bill prohibits medical schools from granting preference in admissions or employment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, with a narrow exception for bona fide qualifications necessary to the school's normal operation. These provisions will apply to students initially enrolling in medical school in the fall semester of 2026 or later, and the bill will take effect either immediately with a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.