The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas HB 1815 removes in-state tuition eligibility for unauthorized immigrants and eliminates high-school-based residency paths
Last action · March 14, 2025: Referred to Higher EducationSponsor: Jared Patterson
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas House Bill 1815 removes the statutory pathway allowing students who graduated from a Texas high school and lived in the state for three years to qualify as state residents for tuition purposes. The bill explicitly prohibits any person not authorized under federal statute to be present in the United States from being considered a state resident and authorizes public colleges to affected students as nonresidents starting September 1, 2025.
Enrolling students previously classified as state residents under the repealed provisions may face nonresident tuition rates at public colleges and universities across Texas.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
students at public institutions of higher education
Students previously relying on high school graduation or lacking federal authorization face potential reclassification as nonresidents and higher tuition rates.
public institutions of higher education
Colleges and universities gain the authority to reclassify students who do not meet the revised residency requirements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is affected by the changes in HB 1815?
Can public colleges reclassify students who were previously labeled as state residents?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Mar 14, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Higher Education
- Mar 14, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Jan 10, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Elimination of High School Residency Pathway
The legislation entirely removes a long-standing statutory avenue that allowed students without permanent federal residency status to qualify for in-state tuition based on high school attendance.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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