The Senate Committee on Education K-16 will meet for the second time this week at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 10, to hear invited and public testimony on another round of bills, which include:
SB 646 West – This bill would amend the Texas Education Code regarding repayment assistance for mental health professionals for certain mental health professional education loans. It broadens the definition of a “mental health professional” to include additional roles such as licensed marriage and family therapist associates and certified school counselors. Eligibility criteria are updated to include service provision to public school students alongside other specified populations. The bill raises the cap on total repayment assistance, with specific increases tailored to various professional categories, such as licensed physicians and licensed clinical social workers.The bill introduces new financial incentives: a one-time $5,000 boost for bilingual professionals, a $10,000 amount for those working in smaller counties, and extended support totaling $15,000 per year for professionals engaged for four or five consecutive years.
SB 1322 Hagenbuch – This bill introduces a comprehensive framework for the accreditation of public institutions of higher education in Texas through the establishment of the Texas Higher Education Accreditation Commission.
SB 1418 Campbell – This bill addresses the terminology and evaluation methods related to assessment instruments administered to Texas public school students. It replaces the term ACT-Plan with PreACT throughout the Education Code. The bill tasks the commissioner of education with determining how satisfactory performance on the PreACT will equate with other assessments for fulfilling end-of-course (EOC) requirements. If a student does not meet satisfactory performance standards on the PreACT, they would be required to take the appropriate EOC assessment. The bill states that the PreACT is included in the list of acceptable college preparation assessments. Section 39.202 is also revised to include the PreACT when evaluating the performance of students for the purpose of academic distinction designations concerning postsecondary readiness. The updated criteria require tracking and acknowledging student success in relation to the PreACT.
SB 1961 Bettencourt – This bill establishes new reporting standards and assessments regarding postsecondary education and workforce data in Texas.
SB 1998 Huffman – This legislation introduces a Statewide Pediatric Subspecialty Preceptorship Program related to training opportunities for medical students in Texas who are interested in pursuing careers in pediatric subspecialties.
SB 2076 Creighton – This bill amends the Government Code by revising definitions and regulations surrounding the Capitol view corridors.
SB 2615 Creighton – This bill regulates the conditions under which employees can work remotely at institutions of higher education.
SB 2647 Middleton – This bill changes the accreditation process of postsecondary educational institutions in Texas through the establishment of two new subchapters: one focuses on the quality review of accrediting agencies, and the other creates the Texas Accreditation Agency.
SB 2786 Creighton – This bill amends the Education Code to explicitly define three types of individuals who qualify as students eligible for exemption from the Texas Success Initiative assessment requirements.
SB 2788 Menendez – This bill creates an exemption from the assessment requirements of the Texas Success Initiative for students who obtain qualifying scores on the PSAT, in addition to the currently accepted SAT and ACT. It includes the PSAT on the list of exams that grant students an exemption from these requirements. This exemption is effective for a five-year period from the date the student takes the exam and meets the board’s scoring criteria. The bill states that the provisions concerning the PSAT exemption would apply beginning with the assessment of entering undergraduate students at public institutions for the 2026 fall semester. For any assessments occurring prior to this semester, the existing laws would remain in effect.
