SB 37 passed along with 10 other higher ed bills.

Higher Education Reforms in Texas

After five months of negotiations at the Texas Capitol, state Republicans' sought-after higher education reforms are coming to public universities and colleges across the state. The reforms stem from the Legislature's passage of Senate Bill 37, which initiates a review of curriculum and degrees, boosts regents' authority, tightens faculty senates, and establishes a state oversight office.

Higher Education Bills Passed by the Texas Legislature

The following bills are waiting on the governor's desk to be signed into law:

• "Campus Protection Act," SB 2972: Narrows free speech protections at public universities to students and employees.
• Accreditation, SB 530: Allows higher education institutions in Texas to pick from any accrediting agency approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• Research security, SB 1273: Establishes a Higher Education Research Security Council to develop policies to protect research from foreign adversaries or other threats.
• HB 8 clean up, SB 1786 and SB 1191: Defines that all high school students who enroll in dual credit in the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer or FAST program will not pay tuition and fees, and gives community colleges credit for students who transfer to a private higher education institution.
• Training on sexual assault prevention, SB 800: Requires higher education institutions to train incoming students on sexual assault, harassment, dating violence, and stalking prevention.
• Return to work, SB 2615: Stops remote and hybrid work for the majority of higher education employees, with exceptions for medical or disability reasons, non-teaching staff, and faculty providing telehealth services.
• Constitutional appropriations, HB 42: Provides a financial boost to higher education institutions in the state through the Higher Education Fund (HEF).
• UH-Victoria transfer, SB 2361: Transfers the University of Houston Victoria school to the Texas A&M University System, renaming the institution Texas A&M University Victoria.
• Competency-based degrees, HB 4848: Instructs each university system to ensure they have available in at least one of its institutions a "competency-based baccalaureate degree program."
• Transfer data, SB 3039: Seeks to improve persistence among students by identifying barriers to college transfers.

Higher Education Bills That Didn't Pass

Proposals that failed to pass the Legislature include:

• A mask ban and a repeal of the Texas Dream Act
• A proposed ban on schools entering into contracts with foreign adversaries
• A formula to sunset degrees with a low return on investment
• Various core curriculum bans on courses that mention racism, sexuality, or gender identity

Gov. Greg Abbott can still veto higher education bills, but hasn't given any indication he will.