Vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies eligibility requirements for postsecondary educational institutions to participate in the governor's university research initiative in Texas.

Highlights:

• Expands the definition of “eligible institution” in Section 62.161(2) of the Education Code to include private or independent institutions of higher education (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of matching grants under Section 62.163(d) to recruit a distinguished researcher from another eligible institution, removing “a public or private institution of higher education” from this distinction (Sec. 3).

• Applies changes to grants awarded for the 2025–2026 academic year and after (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the effective date as September 1, 2025, unless the bill receives a two/thirds for immediate effect (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text