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Bill

HB 4912

Relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Terry Wilson

Texas bill requires public universities to waive application fees during designated periods to increase college access for prospective students.

Laid on the table subject to call
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Bill Summary · HB 4912

Legislative bill overview

HB 4912 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to mandate that public universities waive application fees during specified periods. The bill aims to reduce financial barriers for prospective students applying to Texas public colleges and universities by eliminating upfront costs at critical application windows.

Why is this important

Application fees—typically ranging from $45-$90 per institution—can deter low-income and first-generation students from applying to multiple schools, affecting college access and enrollment diversity. Waiving fees during peak application periods could increase application rates and help students comparison-shop among institutions without financial penalties.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact: Public universities rely on application fee revenue to cover admissions processing costs; eliminating these fees during busy periods shifts costs to institutions or state appropriations without specified funding mechanisms
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's reference to "certain periods" lacks specificity—unclear whether this means specific dates, rolling windows, or entire application seasons, creating implementation uncertainty
  • Competitive disadvantage: If waiver periods differ across institutions, some schools may attract disproportionately higher application volumes, affecting enrollment management and administrative capacity

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

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