AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
Equity, workforce shortages among higher-education issues being considered COMPILED BY DANICA LLOYD Dozens of bills were filed in the 88th Texas Legislature that would impact higher education institutions statewide if passed. Legislation must pass through both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives to reach Gov. Greg Abbott before becoming law. The regular session is set to end May 29.
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SENATE BILL 15 Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston
SB 17 Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe The intent of this bill is to prohibit offices of diversity, equity and inclusion at institutions of higher education. Colleges and universities would also not be able to require diversity, equity and inclusion statements in the hiring or admissions process. SB 411 Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney Student health centers at colleges and universities would be required to provide certain pregnancy- related information in printed format and via QR code if this bill became law. This would also include information about abortion and its associated medical risks, according to the legislation.
SB 25 Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham To help combat a statewide nursing shortage, nurses who also serve as part-time faculty for nursing degree programs at institutions of higher education would be eligible for loan repayment assistance if this bill were to become law. Full- time faculty already qualify for assistance.
HOUSE BILL 906 Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso This bill would edit the Texas Education Code to require higher education institutions to provide new students information regarding mental health and suicide prevention resources available to them. This information would include early warning signs a person considering suicide may exhibit.
This bill requires college students to compete on sports teams based on their sex assigned at birth. If the bill becomes law, transgender women would not be able to join women’s sports teams, and transgender men would not be able to join men’s sports teams.
HB 68 Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock
HB 584 Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake This bill would establish an
SB 2194 Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio
This bill would require state entities to notify high school students in the foster care system they are exempt from tuition and fees for dual-credit courses. These entities would also automatically enroll eligible students in the state college tuition waiver program.
If passed, this bill would promote racial equity in higher education hiring and promotion practices. Institutions would be required to develop a five-year plan to increase faculty diversity, including strategies to have staff diversity reflect that of the student population.
information technology credential program to be offered at public community colleges to help address certain workforce shortages. The program would equip students for entry-level information technology positions in state agencies.
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