SB 365 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education is entitled to an academic fresh start.

This bill allows Texas public universities to disregard undergraduate applicants' academic records older than 10 years when evaluating admission, but requires them to retain the most recent 5 years of grades and credits. Colleges must publicly post their specific policies on this practice and cannot selectively ignore only parts of the 10-year window - they must disregard all records from that period if they choose to apply the policy. The law applies to admissions for the 2025 fall semester and affects how institutions count credits toward degree requirements for students using this "academic fresh start" option. It also ties state funding for relevant credits to this policy starting in 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Nov 14, 2024 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · May 6, 2025
MODERATE
The bill text was converted from an 'Engrossed' draft to an 'Enrolled' final version, adding official signatures, certification of passage by the Senate and House, and the Governor's approval. No substantive policy changes to the academic fresh start provisions were made; the core eligibility rules, funding timelines, and effective dates remain identical to the previous version.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill's substantive provisions remain the same.
TECHNICAL

Added official enrolled version header, bill number formatting, and certification signatures from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor.

Included certification statements confirming the bill passed the Senate on April 10, 2025, and the House on April 23, 2025, with vote counts.

Added Governor's approval signature line and date field to finalize the bill.

Removed draft formatting markers, page numbers, and placeholder text from the engrossed version.

Floor votes · House Apr 23, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
49
Key actions
14
Committee
10
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Higher Education
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education K-16
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
8 primary · 7 co-sponsors

Sponsors