Committee Hearing Scheduled in Other Chamber Authored by Ray Lopez (D) View at Source
Caption: Relating to assistance for tuition and fees at postsecondary educational institutions for certain members of the Texas military forces. Initially Referred to House Higher Education Committee, chaired by a Republican Last Referred to Senate Veteran Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
HB 290 amends the Texas Education Code and Government Code to expand tuition assistance benefits for eligible members of the Texas military forces. The bill increases the maximum exemption from tuition for service members from 12 to 15 semester credit hours per term and exempts them from mandatory fees. It also extends eligibility from 5 to 7 academic years (or from 10 to 15 semesters), whichever comes first. Additionally, the bill raises the cap on tuition assistance awards for Texas State Guard members from 30 to 45 per semester or term, with a provision for exceeding this cap if deemed necessary by the adjutant general. This Act would apply beginning with the 2025 fall semester, pending the necessary votes for immediate enactment.
Joint authors: Plesa (D) Co-authors: Isaac (R); Kerwin (R); Morales, E. (D); Morales Shaw (D); Perez, V. (D) Sponsors: Hagenbuch (R) Co-sponsors: Menendez (D)
Nov 12, 2024
(H) Lopez, R. signed onto the bill as Author (H) Filed
Feb 27, 2025
(H) Read first time (H) Referred to the House Higher Education, chaired by a Republican
Mar 11, 2025
(H) Morales Shaw signed onto the bill as Coauthor
Mar 25, 2025
(H) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (H) Considered in public hearing (H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (H) Left pending in committee
Mar 27, 2025
(H) House Higher Education met. (H) Considered in formal meeting (H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 1, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed
Apr 2, 2025
(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 8, 2025
(H) Kerwin signed onto the bill as Coauthor
Apr 9, 2025
(H) Considered in Calendars
Apr 14, 2025
(H) Perez, V. signed onto the bill as Coauthor (H) Placed on General State Calendar (H) Read 2nd time (H) Passed to engrossment (H) Record vote
RV#163: Yea 115 (R 56, D 59) - Nay 29 (R 29, D 0) View Source
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(H) Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (H) Reported engrossed (S) Received from the House
Apr 16, 2025
(H) Plesa signed onto the bill as Joint Author
May 5, 2025
(S) Read first time (S) Referred to the Senate Veteran Affairs, chaired by a Republican
May 22, 2025
(S) Posting rule suspended
May 23, 2025
(S) Co-sponsor authorized (S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (S) Considered in public hearing (S) Left pending in committee
(H) Hagenbuch signed onto the bill as Sponsor (H) Menendez signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill
For
(Tue 3/25/2025) Testifying before H Higher Education as Mireya Cruz for self (with National Guard Association of Texas) (Tue 3/25/2025) Testifying before H Higher Education as Mitch Fuller for self (with VFW Department of Texas) (Fri 5/23/2025) Registering before S Veteran Affairs as Kym Olson for self (Fri 5/23/2025) Registering before S Veteran Affairs as Mitch Fuller for self (with VFW Department of Texas) (Tue 3/25/2025) Registering before H Higher Education as Sarah Berel-Harrop for self (Fri 5/23/2025) Registering before S Veteran Affairs as Steven Deline for self (Tue 3/25/2025) Registering before H Higher Education as William West for American Legion
