Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

SB 2055 proposes targeted amendments to the Texas Education Code to enhance fairness and institutional access in the Texas Leadership Scholars Program. The legislation introduces a formal definition of “eligible institution,” aligning it with the broader definition of general academic teaching institutions under Section 61.003 of the Education Code. This change ensures that all such institutions are clearly and equally included in the program.

A key provision of SB 2055 is its restructuring of how research scholarships are distributed among institutions. The bill mandates that each eligible institution receive at least one research scholarship. Any remaining research scholarships are to be allocated in part based on the number of research doctoral degrees awarded, incentivizing academic excellence and productivity without penalizing smaller institutions.

To further protect equitable access, the bill prohibits the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board from adopting rules that either limit which institutions may participate in the program or give preferential treatment to students based on institutional affiliation. These limitations are intended to prevent favoritism or exclusionary practices in state scholarship administration. Finally, the bill directs the Coordinating Board to implement these changes as quickly as possible after the bill’s effective date.

Author

Royce West

Co-Author

Cesar Blanco

Angela Paxton

Sponsor

Suleman Lalani

Co-Sponsor

Vincent Perez

Contact the Author

Sen. Royce West

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0123

Capitol Office:

CAP 1E.5

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 2055 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the State of Texas. The analysis indicates that any administrative or programmatic costs arising from the bill’s implementation, such as adjustments to scholarship distribution or the inclusion of additional institutions, can be absorbed within existing appropriations and resources available to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and participating institutions.

Similarly, the bill does not pose any significant fiscal implications for local governments. Public institutions affected by the program changes are not anticipated to incur substantial new expenses under the bill's provisions. As such, the legislation is administratively feasible and fiscally neutral, promoting policy changes without necessitating new funding or increased expenditures at either the state or local level.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 2055 is a corrective and clarifying measure that addresses fairness and administrative overreach in the Texas Leadership Scholars Program (TLSP). While some may be generally opposed to state-sponsored scholarship programs on philosophical or fiscal grounds, this bill does not expand or promote the existence of such a program. Instead, it ensures that, if the program is to continue operating, it does so on a fair and equitable basis. Specifically, SB 2055 guarantees that all general academic teaching institutions in Texas have the opportunity to participate and that no institution is excluded or given preferential treatment by state bureaucrats.

Crucially, the bill does not increase the size or scope of government. It does not create any new programs, agencies, or mandates. It instead limits the regulatory authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by prohibiting it from enacting exclusionary or biased rules. In doing so, it reins in administrative discretion and reinforces legislative intent and transparency.

Additionally, the Legislative Budget Board reports no significant fiscal impact on the state or local governments. All anticipated costs can be absorbed with existing resources, and the bill neither increases the tax burden on citizens nor imposes new mandates on individuals, institutions, or businesses.

For those who question the legitimacy or efficiency of state-run scholarship programs, this bill does not validate or expand them—it simply ensures basic fairness in their application. If such a program is to exist, at the very least, it should be neutral, transparent, and non-discriminatory. On that basis, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 2055.\

Individual Liberty: The bill ensures that all students, regardless of which public university they attend, have an equal opportunity to access state-funded leadership scholarships. It removes arbitrary barriers created by unelected agency rules, thereby protecting individuals from being unfairly excluded based on where they choose to pursue higher education.
Personal Responsibility: The bill explicitly limits the rulemaking authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It prevents the agency from adopting rules that exclude certain institutions or favor others, reinforcing legislative control and checking administrative overreach. This restores fidelity to the original intent of the legislature and enhances transparency.
Free Enterprise: While the bill does not directly involve private markets, it promotes a more level playing field among public institutions. This fosters healthy academic competition, discourages central favoritism, and supports decentralization—key attributes of a freer, more market-aligned education system.
Private Property Rights: The bill maintains the current cap that limits scholarships to four years per student, which encourages timely graduation. However, it does not add new requirements for student performance or accountability, so its impact on personal responsibility is modest but not negative.
Limited Government: The legislation involves a public scholarship program and public institutions; it does not regulate or affect ownership or the use of private property.

View Bill Text and Status