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SB1273

Regular Session

Relating to establishing the Higher Education Research Security Council.

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

Higher Education Research Security Council • Office of the Attorney General (Report Recipient) • Texas A&M University System (Presiding Officer)

SB1273
Moderate
Relating to establishing the Higher Education Research Security Council.
Moderate Compliance Urgency
Requires near-term attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Higher Education Research Securi...Office of the Attorney GeneralTexas A&M University System
Primary Author: Sen. Bryan Hughes
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Q2 2026 (Projected). While the law is effective in late 2025, the mandatory security policies will not be finalized until after the Council's first meeting (deadline Jan 1, 2026).
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Council (chaired by the Texas A&M University System) must develop a comprehensive "Research Security Policy" post-January 2026. Businesses face a "regulatory gray zone" between Sept 2025 and mid-2026 where current contracts remain valid but future standards are pending.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Funding Sources: Immediately screen all investors, donors, and supply chain partners for ties to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.
  • Update Contract Templates: Draft standard addendums for university contracts certifying compliance with the John S. McCain and Thornberry NDAA foreign adversary lists.
  • Review Insurance Coverage: Verify that Cyber Liability and D&O policies cover theft of IP by state-sponsored actors, as the law creates a presumption of negligence for non-compliance.
  • Monitor Council Appointments: Assign a liaison to track the Texas A&M System’s appointments to the Council in October 2025 to predict the aggressiveness of the forthcoming policy.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

All Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Grant Agreements, and IP Licensing contracts with Tier 1 institutions must be amended to include Representations and Warranties certifying that funds and control do not originate from foreign adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea). Vendors must certify compliance with federal prohibited entity lists (NDAA).

Hiring/Training

Private research partners and university labs must align HR vetting with the Council's forthcoming standards. This specifically requires "academic history checks" to identify undisclosed foreign affiliations. Research Security Officers (RSOs) must complete mandatory annual training provided by the Council.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Institutions must document compliance to achieve "security excellence" accreditation. Private partners involved in sensitive R&D must maintain audit-ready records of funding sources and personnel affiliations to support the university's confidential annual reporting to the Governor and Attorney General.

Fees & Costs

While the Legislative Budget Board anticipates no fiscal impact to the state, businesses should budget for increased administrative costs related to enhanced background checks and potential IT upgrades to meet state-mandated "research security and integrity" tool standards.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The law mandates the use of "research security and integrity tools" but does not define the technical specifications or approved vendors. The Council could mandate specific, proprietary software, forcing costly IT migrations for university partners. Additionally, the scope of "academic history checks" is undefined; it is unclear if this requires international investigators to verify foreign undergraduate records, which would significantly delay hiring.

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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.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 13, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 10, 2025
Passed House
May 6, 2025
Signed
May 27, 2025
TopicsEducationEducation--higherEducation--higher--institutions & ProgramsEducation--higher--state CoordinationElectronic Information SystemsState Agencies, Boards & CommissionsState Agencies, Boards & Commissions--newly ProposedTexas A&m University SystemHigher Education Research Security CouncilResearch & Development
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Bryan HughesRepublican · Primary Author
Coauthors (4)

House Sponsor

Rep. Terry WilsonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1273

Q

What does Texas SB1273 do?

SB1273 centralizes counter-espionage oversight for Texas "Tier 1" universities under a new Higher Education Research Security Council, effective September 1, 2025. While the statutory burden falls on universities, this law imposes strict downstream compliance requirements on private sector partners, defense contractors, and donors regarding foreign influence, funding sources, and intellectual property security. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: Q2 2026 (Projected).

Q

Who authored SB1273?

SB1273 was authored by Texas Senator Bryan Hughes during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1273 signed into law?

SB1273 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 27, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1273?

SB1273 is enforced by Higher Education Research Security Council, Office of the Attorney General (Report Recipient) and Texas A&M University System (Presiding Officer).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB1273?

The compliance urgency for SB1273 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1273?

The cost impact of SB1273 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1273 address?

SB1273 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--institutions & programs, education--higher--state coordination and electronic information systems.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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