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HB 1512

Relating to reporting the number of children known or reasonably believed to not be citizens of the United States enrolled in a public school and to requesting reimbursement from the United States government for the cost of educating those children.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Hillary Hickland

Texas schools must report non-citizen student enrollment and request federal reimbursement for education costs, shifting fiscal responsibility from state to federal government.

Referred to Public Education
#aliens(i0032) #education #commissionerof(v9954) #education--primary&secondary--admission&attendance(i0227) #education--schooldistricts(i0220) #federalrelations(s0862)
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Bill Summary · HB 1512

Legislative bill overview

HB 1512 would require Texas public schools to identify and report the number of enrolled students who are known or reasonably believed to be non-citizens, and would authorize the state to seek federal reimbursement for the costs of educating these students. The bill frames public education funding for non-citizen children as a federal obligation rather than a state responsibility.

Why is this important

This bill directly addresses the fiscal debate over who bears responsibility for educating immigrant children. Texas spends billions annually on public K-12 education; proponents argue the federal government should reimburse states for serving non-citizen students, while opponents contend this could affect school funding equity and create implementation challenges. The bill's passage could influence how other states approach similar cost-allocation questions and potentially trigger federal-state disputes over education funding responsibilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional/legal challenges: The 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe established that states cannot deny free public K-12 education based on immigration status; this bill may conflict with that precedent depending on implementation details
  • Data collection concerns: Requiring schools to identify and track students by citizenship status raises privacy issues and could discourage enrollment among immigrant families regardless of legal status
  • Fiscal feasibility: The bill assumes federal reimbursement is available or obtainable; Congress may reject reimbursement claims, leaving Texas bearing the reporting burden without financial relief

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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