March 8, 2024

Senate Education Committee Publishes

Final Calendar

The Senate Education Committee requested all members to put their education bills on notice by 3 pm this past Wednesday. The calendar was published with 90 bills for consideration. Additional bills can only be added by rule suspension, consequently, the Committee will begin working through the calendar this next week.  

The House Higher Education Subcommittee is aiming for March 18th to begin their work on a final set of bills. The special calendar on lottery and student scholarships will be heard at the same time. Bills that pass the Subcommittee will then be referred to the House Education Administration Committee.

Gun Bill to be Considered

HB1904/SB2180 exempts persons who are authorized to carry a firearm from criminal offense if they possess a handgun on a college or university property that is properly posted prohibiting weapons on campus. The person with the handgun must have either a handgun permit or an enhanced handgun carry permit. Too, the weapon must be possessed in a concealed manner. If passed, the bill would override punitive actions for carrying handguns on campus.

TICUA has expressed opposition to the measure. The bill has been placed on the Senate Judiciary calendar for March 12th and the House Civil Justice Subcommittee calendar for March 19th.

Bill Addressing Accreditation

HB2625/SB2528 causes public colleges and universities to regularly evaluate their accrediting affiliations and determine if they best align with the programs offered by the campuses.  Accreditors may not compel public colleges and universities to violate state law. The measure allows the campus the right of action against an accreditor if it does so and instructs the institution to seek a new accreditor during the next accreditation cycle.

The bill has gone through various iterations that have, at times, included TICUA member institutions. TICUA expressed concern about the measure as originally drafted and proposed language that would make it align with the federal code while also recognizing that institutions currently have the option of considering moving to another institutional accreditor if the move is approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The proposed legislation has been referred to the House Higher Education Subcommittee and is on the Senate Education Committee’s final calendar.