(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.)
Because we are very involved with the conference committee on the Appropriations Bill, this will be a rather short report. The full conference committee has still not addressed higher education issues in public sessions. They are currently scheduled to meet later today (Friday, May 13) and again Saturday morning. Small working groups will continue to meet.
The House met until midnight last night at which time they reached the deadline for passing House bills in the House. Before the deadline, Rep. Geanie Morrison passed tuition revenue bond legislation containing one item for each UH System university. Funding for the issuances, however, has not been appropriated and will be determined in tandem with other higher education issues in the appropriations conference committee.
The Senate Higher Education Subcommittee will hear HB 2329 on Monday, May 16. The bill removes UH-Victoria’s prohibition from offering doctoral programs. House Higher Education has posted a lengthy list of Senate bills for consideration next Monday, including the following:
SB 30 by Zaffirini
Relating to tuition and fee exemptions for students contracting to graduate in a timely manner from pubic institutions of higher education
SB 31 by Zaffirini
Relating to tuition rebate program for certain undergraduates at certain public institutions of higher education
SB 111 by Shapleigh
Relating to undergraduate course credit granted by certain public institutions of higher education for completion of the international baccalaureate diploma program.
SB 1529 by Zaffarini
Relating to policies and measures to promote timely graduation of students from public institutions of higher education.
If time permits and events warrant will issue another more comprehensive report early next week.
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