Relating to eligibility for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant program.

HB 1702 amends Texas education law to expand eligibility for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant program. It adds a new definition for "qualifying general academic teaching institution" to include smaller colleges (under 10,000 students) in counties with under 35,000 residents that are federally designated minority-serving institutions (MSIs). To qualify, these institutions must operate workforce training programs aligned with high-demand jobs, developed with employer input, and demonstrate proven success in recruiting participants, training for living-wage jobs, and placing graduates in those roles. The bill directly affects small, rural colleges with MSI status by allowing them to apply for competitive grants supporting job training programs.