Texas House Bill HB 271

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/12/24
• Out of House Committee: 4/9/25

Caption

Relating to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities.

Summary

HB 271 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to prepare a one-time report to the Legislature on enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities. The report must be submitted by September 1, 2027, and must examine how many students with disabilities enroll in public and private higher education institutions, what barriers they face, what policies and accommodations support their participation, how institutions inform students of their rights and protections, and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill defines “student with a disability” by reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It also authorizes the Coordinating Board to request information from public institutions and, if needed, from private or independent institutions to complete the report. The reporting requirement expires September 1, 2028, making the measure temporary and focused on data collection and policy review rather than a permanent program.

Impact

HB 271 would add Section 61.06642 to the Education Code, creating a new reporting duty for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a corresponding obligation for institutions of higher education to provide information on request. It does not directly change admissions, accommodations, or disability-rights rules, but it could influence future legislation or institutional policy by identifying enrollment gaps, barriers, and effective practices for students with disabilities. The bill applies to both public institutions and, to the extent practicable, private or independent institutions of higher education.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill was generally noncontroversial and policy-oriented, with no recorded committee transcript debate or vote breakdown in the provided materials. Its focus on information gathering, accessibility, and student success indicates a broadly supportive intent to better understand and improve outcomes for students with disabilities in higher education. The bill was ultimately laid on the table subject to call in the House, but the provided record does not show opposition arguments or a contested committee process.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be administrative burden and the scope of information collection, especially for private or independent institutions that the Coordinating Board may request to provide data. Another possible issue is whether the report will meaningfully address barriers and accommodations without imposing new substantive requirements on institutions. Because the bill is limited to a report and expires after one year, any disagreement would likely center on whether the study is necessary, how much data institutions must supply, and whether the Legislature should instead enact direct disability-access reforms.