89R8574 CXP-D     By: Bonnen H.B. No. 5294       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic   standards, and employment decisions in this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.3095 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.3095.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION   COURSEWORK AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVISIONS. (a) In this section,   "medical school" means:                (1)  a medical school as defined by Section 61.501; or                (2)  any other institution of higher education, as   defined by Section 61.003, or school, department, or college of   such an institution, that awards medical degrees.          (b)  Each medical school:                (1)  shall ensure that any coursework offered in the   curriculum required for a medical degree or certificate assesses a   student's performance on the coursework based on the assignment of   a letter grade from A to F; and                (2)  may not offer coursework described by Subdivision   (1), including any assignment or other component of the coursework,   on a pass/fail basis.          (c)  Except as required to comply with state or federal law,   a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the award   of a degree or certificate unless the medical school submits to the   legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:                (1)  a copy of the proposed standards;                (2)  a concise general statement of the reasons for the   proposed standards; and                (3)  the date on which the proposed standards would   become effective.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter W, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.8425 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.8425.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL   SCHOOL ADMISSION. (a) In this section, "medical school" has the   meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.          (b)  In making admissions decisions for a medical degree or   certificate program, a medical school shall consider an applicant's   performance on a standardized test appropriate for the program that   focuses on knowledge of and critical thinking applicable to science   and medical practice, except that the applicant's performance on   the standardized test may not be used as the sole criterion for   consideration of the applicant.          (c)  Except as required to comply with state or federal law,   a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the   admission of a student to the medical school or to a degree or   certificate program unless the medical school submits to the   legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:                (1)  a copy of the proposed standards;                (2)  a concise general statement of the reasons for the   proposed standards; and                (3)  the date on which the proposed standards would   become effective.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.9247 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.9247.  CONSIDERATION OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY,   OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT   DECISIONS PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "medical school" has   the meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a medical   school may not grant preference on the basis of race, sex, color,   ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant:                (1)  for admission to the medical school or to a degree   or certificate program; or                (2)  for employment by the medical school.          (c)  Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting   bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary   to the normal operation of a medical school.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act to admissions   at medical schools apply beginning with admissions for the 2026   spring semester. Admissions for an academic period preceding that   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.