(This legislative update has been assembled by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and edited by the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community.)
Without a doubt, more UH System folks visited the Capitol Building this week than at any other time, with over 500 alumni, students, faculty and staff participating in UH System Day Feb. 8. Their message of appreciation was well-received and the reception was very well attended by legislators and staff. Photos taken during the event will be posted soon.
UH System Board of Regents Chairman Morgan Dunn O’Connor, Vice Chairman Leroy Hermes, Secretary Raul Gonzalez, and members Mike Cemo, Bo Smith, Lynden Rose, Calvin Stephens and Dennis Golden, along with Chancellor Jay Gogue, met with Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick.
On Monday, Chancellor Gogue appeared before the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee to discuss general higher education issues. Next Monday the House Higher Education Committee will hold an organizational meeting. That committee is chaired by Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria).
On Wednesday and Thursday, Chancellor Gogue and Presidents William Staples (UH-Clear Lake), Max Castillo (UH-Downtown), and Tim Hudson (UH-Victoria) presented budget priorities to the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee and the Senate Finance Committee.
We are currently tracking over 100 pieces of legislation. By the end of the session, the number will increase to 600 to 700. We will try to highlight a different area of interest or new activity on important bills each week. These are the bills highlighted this week.
HB 19 by Fred Brown relating to tuition and fee rebates for timely completion of degree programs offered by general academic teaching institutions.
HB 20 by Fred Brown relating to a pilot program to provide reduced undergraduate tuition during a summer term or session at Texas A&M.
HB 64 by Ruth McClendon relating to automatic admission to public institutions of higher education of certain undergraduate transfer students.
SB 30 by Judith Zaffirini relating to tuition and fee exemptions for students contracting to graduate in a timely manner from public institutions of higher education.
SB 32 by Judith Zaffirini relating to requiring students receiving certain financial aid at institutions of higher education to meet timely graduation and academic progress requirements.
SB 33 by Judith Zaffirini relating to graduate stipends awarded as part of the Texas B-On-time loan program.
SB 34 by Judith Zaffirini relating to tuition rebate program for certain undergraduates at certain public institutions of higher education.
SB 35 by Judith Zaffirini relating to a study regarding credit hour requirements for undergraduate certificate and degree programs as public institutions of higher education.
Selected news articles from local, state, and national publications are being posted on the UH System Governmental Relations web page.
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