# Texas SB 37: Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman. Texas SB 37, Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brandon Creighton (Republican), Matt Shaheen; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective on 9/1/25) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB37-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 37 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-13 - Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective on 9/1/25 - Sponsors: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Matt Shaheen - Cosponsors: 6 - Subjects: Education--Higher--Faculty, Education--Higher--General, Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs, Governor, State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly Proposed, EDUCATION--HIGHER--CURRICULUM, GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING, EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, OFFICE OF, HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS, OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 12 (377 yes, 237 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 12 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Faculty council meetings become publicly accessible: benefit, low. Faculty council and senate meetings with a quorum must be public. Colleges must stream live video and audio when more than 50 percent of members attend. Agendas and relevant curriculum proposals must be posted online at least seven days before meetings. Attendance must be recorded when councils add… - Texas reviews ways to shorten coursework: benefit, low. A temporary state committee reviews general education requirements, including ways to reduce the number of required courses. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board selects members from campus leaders’ nominations, equally representing two-year and four-year colleges. The committee’s report i… - Faculty council service brings no guaranteed pay: cost, low. Faculty council or senate service counts as an additional employment duty. Members are not entitled to pay or expense reimbursement for this work. An expense may be reimbursed if it is on the college’s behalf and the college approves it. - Knowingly false college complaints bring costs: cost, low. A person who knowingly files a false complaint must pay the ombudsman office’s investigation costs. The law sets no dollar amount. The office may also refuse to investigate that person’s future complaints. - College board members face expanded training: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, public college board training must cover the legislature, state budget, and appropriations law. Required topics also cover auditing, governance roles, investigations and discipline, open meetings and records, ethics, conflicts of interest, and student privacy. Training mu… - College boards gain senior hiring control: cost, low. College boards must approve or deny hiring provosts and deputy, associate, or assistant provosts. Boards may overturn vice president or dean hires, requiring offers to be withdrawn or employment or employment agreements ended. Presidents must annually evaluate leaders overseeing curriculum or stude… - Faculty councils face new membership limits: cost, low. Only governing boards may create faculty councils or senates, which remain advisory and follow board membership policies. Unless the board provides otherwise, membership is capped at 60, with at least two faculty representatives per college or school. The default selection rule gives each college o… - Students and employees gain complaint channel: mixed, low. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must establish an ombudsman office to answer questions and monitor college compliance. The governor appoints its director with Senate approval, and the director serves at the governor’s pleasure. Students, faculty, and staff may submit written complaint… - College boards review required student courses: mixed, low. Texas public college boards must review general education requirements every five years, considering tuition, fees, graduation time, workforce needs, and accreditation. The first review and certification are due January 1, 2027; certification goes to state higher education officials and legislative… - College complaints trigger deadlines and enforcement: mixed, low. The ombudsman office must notify college boards within five days of receiving complaints and provide quarterly status updates. Boards generally have 175 days to respond, with good-cause extensions, and 30 days to answer written information requests. The office investigates when necessary, issues fi… - College programs face demand and funding checks: mixed, low. College presidents must arrange reviews of minor and certificate programs every five years to identify low-enrollment programs for merger or closure. Programs operating for less than five years are exempt, and reviews must use specific industry data supporting workforce demand. Governing boards mus… - Faculty input stays advisory under administrators: mixed, low. Public colleges must consult faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders on academic policy and campus operations. Governing boards retain final authority, and faculty and staff input remains advisory. Shared governance cannot block necessary reforms or advance political or ideological agendas.… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Matt Shaheen, House - Cosponsor: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brian Birdwell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryan Hughes (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Charles Schwertner (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-31 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Record vote | pass | 83 | 47 | | | 2025-05-25 | House | Record vote | pass | 85 | 56 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 83 | 53 | | | 2025-04-16 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-04-16 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-04-15 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-04-15 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-04-15 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-04-15 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 11 | 20 | | | | Senate | Committee vote: Education K-16 | pass | 9 | 1 | | | | House | Committee vote: Higher Education | pass | 6 | 5 | | ## Actions (99) - 2025-06-20: Effective on 9/1/25 (House) - 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-06-02: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-06-02: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-06-01: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-06-01: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-31: House adopts conf. comm. report-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported (House) - 2025-05-31: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-31: Record vote (RV#4104) (House) - 2025-05-31: House adopts conference committee report (House) - 2025-05-31: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Senate adopts conference committee report (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Conf. Comm. Report distributed (House) - 2025-05-29: Conference committee report filed (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House appoints conferees-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House grants request for conf comm-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House appoints conferees (House) - 2025-05-29: House grants request for conference committee (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate appoints conferees-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate requests conference committee-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate refuses to concur-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate appoints conferees (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Senate requests conference committee (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Senate refuses to concur (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Read (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-26: House passage as amended reported (Senate) - 2025-05-26: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-05-25: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-25: Record vote (RV#3535) (House) - 2025-05-25: Passed (House) - 2025-05-25: Laid out as postponed business (House) - 2025-05-25: Postponed (5/25/25 4:30) (House) - 2025-05-25: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3467) (House) - 2025-05-24: Passed to 3rd reading (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment withdrawn (1-Wu) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (Rule 8, Section 1(a)(1)) (House) - 2025-05-24: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-24: Placed on Major State Calendar (House) - 2025-05-22: Considered in Calendars (House) - 2025-05-22: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-05-22: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-05-22: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-05-19: Reported favorably as substituted (House) - 2025-05-19: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-19: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-05-07: Left pending in committee (House) - 2025-05-07: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House) - 2025-05-07: Public hearing continued on . . . (House) - 2025-05-06: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House) - 2025-05-06: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-06: Considered in public hearing (House) - 2025-05-06: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House) - 2025-04-22: Referred to Higher Education (House) - 2025-04-22: Read first time (House) - 2025-04-17: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-04-16: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Statement(s) submitted (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amendment fails of adoption (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amendment(s) offered (FA3 Gutierrez) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amended (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amendment(s) offered (FA2 Creighton) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amended (FA1 Creighton) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Laid out as postponed business (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Postponed (04/15/25 4:00 PM) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Creighton) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Placed on intent calendar (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Left pending in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Referred to Education K-16 (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Read first time (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Filed (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00037S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00037S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB37-89R (as of 2026-10-19).