By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 4701       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to student discretion to use an alternative assessment   instrument as part of their undergraduate admissions process.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 39.0261(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise   authorized or required by this subchapter:                (1)  each school year and at state cost, a school   district may administer to students in the spring of the eighth   grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally   norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment   instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and   deficiencies of students before entrance into high school;                (2)  each school year and at state cost, a school   district may administer to students in the 10th grade an   established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced   preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the   purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for   college and the workplace; and                (3)  high school students in the spring of the 11th   grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state   cost:                      (A)  one of the valid, reliable, and nationally   norm-referenced assessment instruments used by colleges and   universities as part of their undergraduate admissions processes,   including the SAT, the ACT, or the Classic Learning Test (CLT); or                      (B)  the assessment instrument designated by the   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334.          SECTION 2.  Section 51.803(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic   teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the   institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated   with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's   high school graduating class in one of the two school years   preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for   admission and:                (1)  the applicant:                      (A)  graduated from a public or private high   school in this state accredited by a generally recognized   accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the   United States Department of Defense; or                      (B)  completed a nontraditional secondary   education as defined by Section 51.9241;                (2)  the applicant:                      (A)  successfully completed:                            (i)  at a public high school, the curriculum   requirements established under Section 28.025 for the   distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school   program; or                            (ii)  at a high school to which Section   28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content   and rigor to the distinguished level of achievement under the   foundation high school program; or                      (B)  either:                            (i)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness   Benchmarks on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant; or                            (ii) earned:                                  (a)  on the SAT assessment a score of   at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent;                                  (b)  on the Classic Learning Test   assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent; or                            (iii)  on a college entrance examination   designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and to   which Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply, achieved a score set   by coordinating board rule; and                (3)  if the applicant graduated from a high school   operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant   is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay   tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section   54.241(d) for the term or semester to which admitted.          SECTION 3.  Section 51.805(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A graduating student who does not qualify for admission   under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic   teaching institution if the student:                (1)  successfully completed:                      (A)  at a public high school, the curriculum   requirements established under Section 28.025 for the foundation   high school program; or                      (B)  at a high school to which Section 28.025 does   not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to   the foundation high school program; or                (2)  either:                      (A)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks   on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant; or                      (B)  earned:                            (i)  on the SAT assessment a score of at   least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent;                            (ii)  on the Classic Learning Test   assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent; or                      (C)  on a college entrance examination designated   by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and to which   Paragraphs (A) and (B) do not apply, achieved a score set by   coordinating board rule.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply   beginning with admissions to a general academic teaching   institution for the 2026 fall semester. Admissions to a general   academic teaching institution for a term or semester before the   2026 fall semester are governed by the law in effect immediately   before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  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.