College faculty

New Laws Impacting Higher Education in Texas

Strategic Insights

Aug 25, 2025 — 3 min read

Several new laws will take effect in Texas on September 1, potentially affecting students and faculty in higher education. These laws focus on various aspects, including academic programs, student affordability, and campus policies.

The Texas Legislature passed numerous bills during the 89th regular legislative session, resulting in over 800 new laws taking effect on September 1. Some of these laws have significant implications for students and faculty in higher education, including:

**HB 102**: Requires institutions of higher education to offer early registration to students enrolled in Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs, corps of cadets, or maritime academies.
**HB 4848**: Mandates that university systems in Texas offer competency-based baccalaureate degree programs to align with workforce demands and nontraditional student needs. The total student cost for participating will be capped at no more than half the average cost of attendance and will be adjusted to annual inflation.
**SB 37**: Abolishes faculty councils or senates at public institutions of higher education unless they meet certain criteria.
**SB 769**: Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study and report on the state of students with disabilities in Texas colleges and universities, including barriers to admission, total enrollment levels, availability of accommodations, and related school policies.
**SB 800**: Mandates that universities provide a video on the institution's Title IX office contact information, location, coordinators' names, and available services. Universities will also be required to print the national suicide prevention lifeline, the crisis text line, and the national sexual assault hotline contact information on future IDs.
**SB 1273**: Establishes the Higher Education Research Security Council to promote secure academic research at tier one research institutions while mitigating the risk of foreign espionage and interference.
**SB 1401**: Establishes the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program to develop pipeline programs for students pursuing baccalaureate degrees or certificates in mental health professions.
**SB 1534**: Conducts a study identifying the gaps in health physics education and training provided by higher education and assessing workforce needs in the nuclear energy and radiological safety sectors.
**SB 2431**: Requires private and public universities to build on existing study abroad programs and provide an option for students to earn the allotted foreign language credit required by the institution.
**SB 2615**: Restricts remote work for employees of public institutions of higher education, allowing faculty to work from home only under certain conditions.
**SB 2972**: The "Campus Protection Act," which allows universities to restrict protests, speeches, and wearing facial coverings or masks during expressive activities.
**SB 2995**: Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop a financial aid displacement advisory detailing common reasons for aid displacement and how students can avoid it.
**SB 3039**: Requires institutions to identify existing barriers and emerging issues for transferring students, detail their goals to increase the number, success, and persistence of transfer students, and include information on their website regarding application and admission rates, financial aid awarded, and projected time to complete an academic program.

Statistics:

Over 1,000 bills were passed by Gov. Greg Abbott from the 89th regular legislative session.
800 new laws will go into effect on September 1.
The total student cost for participating in competency-based baccalaureate degree programs will be capped at no more than half the average cost of attendance and will be adjusted to annual inflation.

Sources:

"Texas governor to support over 1,000 bills in looming special session."

+ Source: Texas Tribune, June 2, 2024

Bylaw HB 102, House Bill 102, 89th Legislature, Regular Session.