HB1867 - Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for the siblings of certain military personnel.

  89R215 MM-D     By: Raymond H.B. No. 1867       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of   higher education for the siblings of certain military personnel.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 54.341, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a-2) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (a-5) to   read as follows:          (a-2)  The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also   apply to the spouse or a sibling of:                (1)  a member of the armed forces of the United States:                      (A)  who was killed in action;                      (B)  who died while in service;                      (C)  who is missing in action;                      (D)  whose death is documented to be directly   caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed   forces of the United States; or                      (E)  who became totally and permanently disabled   or meets the eligibility requirements for individual   unemployability according to the disability ratings of the   Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related   injury; or                (2)  a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas   Air National Guard who:                      (A)  was killed since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of this state or the United   States; or                      (B)  is totally and permanently disabled or meets   the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability   according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans   Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive   disability benefits from the department, as a result of a   service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of this state or the United   States.           (a-5)     A sibling of a member of the armed forces may qualify   for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) only if the member does not   have a spouse or child.            (b-1)  To qualify for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) or   (b), the spouse , [ or ] child , or sibling must be classified as a   resident under Subchapter B on the date of the spouse's , [ or ]   child's , or sibling's registration.          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section   54.341, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and fees   charged for the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and fees charged for a   term or semester before the 2025 fall semester are covered by the   law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.