SB1241 - Relating to the consideration of college entrance examinations for admission to certain public institutions of higher education and a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding those examinations.

      S.B. No. 1241         AN ACT   relating to the consideration of college entrance examinations for   admission to certain public institutions of higher education and a   study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding   those examinations.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 51.803(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic   teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the   institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated   with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's   high school graduating class in one of the two school years   preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for   admission and:                (1)  the applicant:                      (A)  graduated from a public or private high   school in this state accredited by a generally recognized   accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the   United States Department of Defense; or                      (B)  completed a nontraditional secondary   education as defined by Section 51.9241;                (2)  the applicant:                      (A)  successfully completed:                            (i)  at a public high school, the curriculum   requirements established under Section 28.025 for the   distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school   program; or                            (ii)  at a high school to which Section   28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content   and rigor to the distinguished level of achievement under the   foundation high school program; or                      (B)   achieved a score set by the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board on a college entrance examination   designated by coordinating board rule [ satisfied ACT's College   Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment applicable to the   applicant or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500   out of 2,400 or the equivalent ]; and                (3)  if the applicant graduated from a high school   operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant   is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay   tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section   54.241(d) for the term or semester to which admitted.          SECTION 2.  Section 51.805(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A graduating student who does not qualify for admission   under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic   teaching institution if the student:                (1)  successfully completed:                      (A)  at a public high school, the curriculum   requirements established under Section 28.025 for the foundation   high school program; or                      (B)  at a high school to which Section 28.025 does   not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to   the foundation high school program; or                (2)   achieved a score set by the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board on a college entrance examination designated by   coordinating board rule [ satisfied ACT's College Readiness   Benchmarks on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant or   earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400   or the equivalent ].          SECTION 3.  Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.8031 to read as follows:           Sec.   51.8031.     STUDY ON COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION SCORES.     (a)   In this section, "coordinating board"   means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.           (b)     The coordinating board shall conduct a study on college   entrance examinations to determine which examinations, and the   requisite score for each examination, should be used as a criterion   for admission to a general academic teaching institution.           (c)  The study must:                 (1)     identify each college entrance examination with   sufficient rigor and reliability to be used as a criterion for   admission to a general academic teaching institution; and                 (2)     determine the score for each examination   identified under Subdivision (1) that demonstrates adequate   performance for purposes of admission to a general academic   teaching institution.           (d)     Not later than August 1, 2026, the coordinating board   shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker   of the house of representatives, and the chair of each standing   legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher   education a report on the results of the study and any   recommendations for legislative or other action.           (e)  This section expires September 1, 2027.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections   51.803(a) and 51.805(a), Education Code, apply beginning with   admissions to a general academic teaching institution for the 2028   fall semester. Admissions to a general academic teaching   institution for a term or semester before the 2028 fall semester are   governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date   of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 5.  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.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1241 passed the Senate on   May 6, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the   Senate concurred in House amendment on May 22, 2025, by the   following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 7.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1241 passed the House, with   amendment, on May 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 77,   Nays 44, one present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor