HB1211

Regular Session

Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Public Institutions of Higher Education (Registrars/Financial Aid Offices) • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

HB1211

Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Depar...

Moderate Urgency

Heavily Contested

House Vote114 - 26

YEA

NAY

81% in favor140 voting

Senate Vote27 - 4

YEA

87% in favor31 voting

Total Opposition Votes

Cost Impact

Low

Effective

2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Public Institutions of Higher Ed...THECB

Primary Author: Rep. John Lujan

89th Texas Legislature

jdkey.com

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Effective immediately upon signature).
Compliance Deadline: Fall 2025 Billing Cycle. Systems must be updated before Fall tuition bills are generated (typically July/August 2025) to avoid issuing refunds.
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) may issue guidance on "gap" students (those who previously aged out but are now re-eligible). Institutions must monitor THECB memos closely through August 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Direct IT/Bursar: Immediately modify the automated billing logic in your Student Information System to move the exemption cap to the 27th birthday effective Fall 2025.
2. Scrub Data: Run a query for students aged 25-26 who were previously coded as "aged out" foster care exemptions. Proactively contact them regarding their regained eligibility.
3. Update Public Assets: Revise website FAQs, financial aid pages, and PDF forms to reflect the age 27 limit before Fall registration peaks.
4. Notify Legal: Prepare a standard response for students who turn 27 mid-semester to ensure consistent application of the "enrollment" definition across the institution.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Third-Party Servicers: If you outsource billing or financial aid verification, you must amend the Service Level Agreement (SLA) or change order immediately to reflect the new age logic (27 vs. 25).
Software Vendors: Contact SIS providers (e.g., Ellucian, Oracle, Workday) to ensure the "age-out" parameter in your tuition calculation module is updated.

Hiring/Training

Financial Aid Officers: Retrain staff to accept DFPS verification letters for applicants aged 25 and 26. Staff must stop automatically rejecting these applicants based on prior training.
Admissions Staff: Brief recruitment teams. Former students who stopped attending due to "aging out" at 25 are now valid prospects for re-enrollment if they are under 27.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Form Revision: Audit all physical and digital "Tuition Exemption Request" forms. Replace text stating "under age 25" with "under age 27" immediately.
Audit Trails: Flag the 25-27 age cohort in your database. You must retain specific proof of age and DFPS status for this group to satisfy future THECB compliance audits.

Fees & Costs

Revenue Impact: Institutions must absorb the cost of waived tuition for this expanded demographic. There is no immediate state reimbursement mechanism attached to this bill.
System Costs: Minimal one-time administrative cost to update billing rules.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Definition of "Enroll": The statute requires a student to "enroll" not later than their 27th birthday. It is unclear if "enroll" refers to the date of course registration, the first day of the semester, or the census date.
*Risk:* A student turns 27 between registration and the first day of class.
*Guidance:* Until THECB clarifies, adopt the most student-favorable interpretation (date of registration) to avoid litigation under Chapter 54 of the Education Code.
The "Gap" Cohort: Students who turned 25 in 2024 (losing eligibility under old law) but are not yet 27 are now re-eligible. The statute does not explicitly address how to handle these "re-activated" students, but the plain text implies full eligibility. Denying them is a high-risk compliance failure.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

Our government affairs experts can walk you through this bill's specific impact on your operations.

Schedule Consultation

Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsEducation Education--higher Education--higher--admission & Attendance Education--higher--student Financial Aid Education--higher--tuition Family Family--child Protection Education--higher--student Fees Family & Protective Services, Department of Health & Human Services Commission Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

Explore more bills from this author and on related topics

More from Rep. John Lujan

View all bills by Rep. John Lujan

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1211

What does Texas HB1211 do?

Texas public institutions of higher education must immediately update financial aid and billing protocols to comply with HB1211, which expands the tuition exemption eligibility for former foster care students. Effective for the Fall 2025 semester, the statutory age limit for enrollment extends from 25 to 27, requiring immediate modification of student information systems to prevent unlawful billing. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Effective immediately upon signature).

Who authored HB1211?

HB1211 was authored by Texas Representative John Lujan during the Regular Session.

When was HB1211 signed into law?

HB1211 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1211?

HB1211 is enforced by Public Institutions of Higher Education (Registrars/Financial Aid Offices) and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

How urgent is compliance with HB1211?

The compliance urgency for HB1211 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1211?

The cost impact of HB1211 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1211 address?

HB1211 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--admission & attendance, education--higher--student financial aid and education--higher--tuition.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

Need Strategic Guidance on This Bill?

Need help with Government Relations, Lobbying, or compliance? JD Key Consulting has the expertise you're looking for.