89R6255 AND-D     By: Hinojosa of Nueces S.B. No. 2231       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   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.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.0731 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.0731.  WAIVER OF CERTAIN APPLICATION FEES; FREE   COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK. (a) The board shall designate the second   full week of October as Free College Application Week. During the   designated week, the board shall permit individuals in this state   to apply to any institution of higher education for undergraduate   admission without paying an application fee.          (b)  The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement   Subsection (a).          SECTION 2.  Section 61.0731, Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.