HB 1527 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers.

HB 1527 creates a tuition and fee exemption for peace officers employed by Texas state or local government at public universities. It applies to students enrolled in qualifying degree programs, including criminal justice, forensic science, cybersecurity, nursing, law, and related fields. To qualify, officers must be enrolled full-time in a qualifying program, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and apply for the exemption at least one week before registration. The exemption takes effect for the 2025 fall semester.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 12, 2025 Last action May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · May 10, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the Texas Education Code to provide tuition and fee exemptions for peace officers enrolled in law enforcement-related degree programs at public institutions. The changes update the list of qualifying programs, clarify eligibility requirements, and establish an effective date for the tuition exemption.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility criteria for tuition exemptions by updating the definition of law enforcement-related degree programs and adding specific requirements for peace officer certification.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the list of qualifying law enforcement-related degree programs to include public administration and public affairs, and reorganized program categories for clarity.

Added a new requirement that students must hold a basic peace officer proficiency certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to qualify for the tuition exemption.

TIMELINE

Established that the tuition exemption applies beginning with fees charged for the 2025 fall semester, with provisions for immediate effect if the bill receives a two-thirds legislative vote.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the application timeline requirement to ensure peace officers apply for the exemption at least one week before the institution's regular registration period ends.

Floor votes · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

125–0

Passed · 19 other

Total votes 144

May 9, 2025

D Democratic58

50 Yea 8

86% Yea

R Republican86

75 Yea 11

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Higher Education

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

3 primary · 16 co-sponsors