According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 2851 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the State of Texas. While the bill mandates that consolidated application services like the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) must include nursing school applications, the associated costs would primarily fall on institutional funds within the University of Texas System. These institutional funds are outside the scope of the General Appropriations Act, meaning they are not considered state appropriations and thus do not create a direct cost to the state budget.

The University of Texas System anticipates that implementation costs, such as modifying the existing application infrastructure to accommodate nursing schools, would be partially offset by fees charged to applicants submitting through the expanded system. Consequently, any necessary updates or operational expenses would likely be covered internally without the need for new appropriations or additional taxpayer funding.

Furthermore, the bill does not anticipate any fiscal implications for local governments. No additional costs or administrative burdens are projected at the local level.

HB 2851 seeks to address Texas's critical nursing shortage by making it easier for students to apply to nursing schools. It would require the existing Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) to also handle applications for nursing schools, creating a streamlined, one-stop system for nursing applicants. By simplifying the admissions process, the bill would encourage more qualified students to pursue nursing careers in Texas, an urgent workforce need identified by the Texas Healthcare Workforce Task Force.

Although the bill does impose a new requirement on a university-run application service, it does not significantly grow the size of government, does not impose a new burden on taxpayers, and actually reduces burdens on individual students. Any operational costs are expected to be recovered through application fees and would not impact state appropriations. From a liberty perspective, while there is a slight regulatory expansion, it is balanced by a strong public need — addressing the state's healthcare workforce shortages without creating new bureaucracy or raising taxes.

In short, HB 2851 promotes educational accessibility, supports the nursing profession, and helps meet a serious public need in a minimally intrusive way. Therefore, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 2851.

• Individual Liberty: The bill enhances individual liberty by making it easier for students to apply to multiple nursing schools through a single, consolidated application service. This reduces unnecessary administrative barriers that currently restrict access to educational opportunities. By streamlining the application process, the bill helps individuals pursue their career ambitions more freely, supporting the principle that people should have clear pathways to better their lives through education and professional growth.
• Personal Responsibility: The bill neither promotes nor undermines personal responsibility. Students still bear the responsibility for preparing strong applications, meeting academic and program standards, and successfully navigating the admissions process. The bill simply makes the mechanical process of applying more convenient; it does not reduce the need for applicants to take initiative or meet personal performance expectations.
• Free Enterprise: The bill slightly restricts free enterprise by mandating that nursing schools use a particular centralized application service. This removes the freedom of nursing programs to select or develop alternative admissions systems or compete with other services. While the free enterprise impact is relatively contained, since TMDSAS is already a public service, not a broad private market competitor, it still introduces a compulsory standard in a space that previously allowed more institutional discretion.
• Private Property Rights: The bill imposes a new operational requirement on TMDSAS and nursing schools without their explicit consent, thereby modestly infringing on their autonomy to manage their internal affairs. Although it does not seize or regulate tangible private property, it affects how these institutions use their resources and structure their operations, slightly curbing their control over internal processes.
• Limited Government: The bill results in a modest expansion of state oversight by mandating a specific admissions process for nursing schools. It does not create a new agency, levy new taxes, or expand the overall size of government significantly. However, it does set a precedent for the legislature directing operational practices in higher education, which slightly broadens the regulatory footprint of government beyond traditional boundaries.

• SB 2656 (Same As)