[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6491419,"mediaKeyId","5455024-7701c691109f79a7dd6980776393a135","parentId",5455024,"title","THECB committee reviews fiscal report, loan and bond outlook and adopts operating budget for 2026–27","audioSeconds",1695,"startMs",1468000,"endMs",3163000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5455024-7701c691109f79a7dd6980776393a135&start=1468&end=3163","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5455024-7701c691109f79a7dd6980776393a135/thumbnail_1468000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491419/Texas/THECB-committee-reviews-fiscal-report-loan-and-bond-outlook-and-adopts-operating-budget-for-202627","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491419-e95a8bfde637cb5f3232b389ae5f8505/orig.mp4?Expires=1770997203&Signature=RXfiy7duklqNtop4VZ8j1EoQDgXEFrqu0AP3oqTKRM7P1hufYAhqRggkSfqa8Lp17R63z5kpy72K7jW4pVTHbOZ5ZA8BjyXRCoQSlqc2e7HXzZ7NOQ-xbuVDjzMpWoWFfiPLqHHe8D-Yu8wZuEBsOQlmZZn9rXMzXuL1qsLV6RdJfXX8lP41ZMq66ny~-bm480ipnY~uGl1gX8pWV0iwHaAh7C3jFvK5me82JXeKVLywxq3u5CeJarMwGMdm~se2eiC1nP4DYRlARBrbM2ZIjEe-nrjtMUkFusaWRRKyv1uWV2jVpXXOqgUHFnXClRm9aYE1EsbS5U2JvVfATg44bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)","date","2025-07-23T15:32:33Z","article","Anthony Infantini, THECB chief financial officer, presented a nine‑month fiscal year 2025 financial report to the Agency Operations Committee on July 23, and the committee voted to adopt the agency operating budget for fiscal years 2026–27.

Infantini summarized the agency’s cash and budget posture, noting budget adjustments that move funds from year one of the biennium to year two and that staff are monitoring cash availability for the remainder of the year. He said loan demand has been lower this year, in part because of recently implemented debt limits, and that the agency completed a bond sale for about $100,000,000 this quarter. He told the committee the tax‑exempt status of the bonds “does remain, as of now,” but that federal legislation introduced uncertainty earlier in the process.

On student loans, Infantini said the agency will be able to offer the same fixed rate for the 2025–26 academic year: “a fixed rate of 6.3% with the option for borrowers to lower that to 6 5% by electing automated automatic payments,” he said. He described how callable bonds and market conditions could create opportunities to lower loan rates in the future through refunding or by using cash on hand instead of issuing new bonds.

The committee approved the agency operating budget for FY 2026–27. Infantini said the proposed operating budget starts from the agency’s legislative appropriations request and that the final enacted budget reflects significant additions, including funding for financial aid and research. He said the final approved operating budget for the coming biennium will total just over $3.3 billion and that the increase reflects both pass‑through program funding and new agency operational responsibilities.

Separately, the committee approved an interagency contract cap with the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) for data‑center services. Infantini recommended a $25,000,000 limit for the biennium to accommodate mandatory data‑center procurements and to allow technology capital items that must be procured through DIR to pass through the data‑center program without additional appropriation steps.

Why it matters: The financial presentation and votes set THECB’s authorized spending and contracting authority for the next biennium, confirm student loan terms for the coming academic year, and establish a procurement pathway for technology investments that may be required to flow through DIR.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agency Operations Committee (AOC) 07/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","CFO Anthony Infantini updated the committee on the fiscal year 2025 financial report, student loan demand and a recent bond sale; the committee approved the agency operating budget for fiscal years 2026–27 and an interagency data‑center contract cap.","taxTitle","Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Departments and Agencies, Executive, Texas","taxId",17243,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6491424,"THECB committee reviews 89th legislative session, highlights major investments in student aid, research and technology",835,435000,1270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5455024-7701c691109f79a7dd6980776393a135&start=435&end=1270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5455024-7701c691109f79a7dd6980776393a135/thumbnail_435000.jpg","/articles/6491424/Texas/THECB-committee-reviews-89th-legislative-session-highlights-major-investments-in-student-aid-research-and-technology","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491424-daf8a3ec92fc2c7bd65036fe799d3543/orig.mp4?Expires=1770997203&Signature=kopauVwxGvAzemQ2dsGv1schugvV70r7kNyTmbek4C1-wb1~Rp~2AIyixMptmNpQM2obupkYMDMbf-jZ2PddA~X8AtBzBzwWFbgj02EmYfWPhGmjGqL16NKoMbUUYJ1Yr~bU0ZSb3dBDGoBclTOJeNv7S4b3CVCZt87ZOMxTaZL3FKS0yqKztuSWWv9p1P33rMZ~C6G30RMKr5kFe3s4DDyXcwhuI1MFEcB4L7pYXTvVe60TSV9D7RTSSEJpY4g4sK5wM7W27lNn9GKZN4MmKDG9~cQ~nx7RG2fmmTuHwXWRqOdYOzDRCuyud0~z9Djv7~qqpMUFQL~0ENUBRQKUyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glenna Brune, associate commissioner for public affairs at the Higher Education Coordinating Board, briefed the board’s Agency Operations Committee on July 23 about policy and funding outcomes from the 89th Texas Legislature and related federal developments.

Brune told the committee that the Legislature funded several of THECB’s priority “exceptional items,” including $400,900,000 for research and innovation, $15,000,000 for data and technology modernization, and $320,000,000 in additional student financial aid — “a 22% increase over the prior biennium,” she said. “This session's resulting strategic investments show that legislators and leadership are serious about account accessibility, predictability, and transferability in higher education,” Brune said.

The funding package includes direction and program changes staff said are intended to increase predictability for students and expand aid portability. Brune summarized several specific program changes: guaranteed state financial aid for eligible high‑school graduates in the top 25% of their class; continued portability so students who received a TEOG grant at a two‑year college may keep receiving aid through the Texas Grant after transferring to a four‑year institution if they meet GPA and other eligibility requirements; an expansion of the share of students eligible for Texas Grant, TEOG and related programs to 67.5%; maintenance of the Texas Leadership Scholars Program cohort size at 300; and an increase in the maximum award for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASP) from $15,000 to $30,000.

Brune highlighted several bills and administrative implications referenced during her presentation. She said Senate Bill 2314 requires high‑school students to choose whether to opt in to direct admissions and requires colleges and universities to prominently link to My Texas Future from admissions websites, with school districts and charter schools required to inform students and families about My Texas Future and support profile creation and updates. She said Senate Bill 2231 designates the second full week of October (Oct. 13–19) as free college application week, enabling students to apply to any public college or university for undergraduate admission without a fee. Brune also described Senate Bill 1786 as furthering outcomes‑based funding for community colleges and coordinating workforce and career and technical education efforts.

On programmatic questions, committee members asked how the free application week was selected and whether a week would be long enough to expand applications. Brune said timing and cost constraints drove the choice and that the agency will monitor results and report back to the board. “Most high schoolers will have trouble getting within a month,” she said, and the agency will track whether the week increases applications.

Brune also noted the Legislature appropriated funds contingent on other statutory changes: she described an appropriation tied to the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP) that was authorized to address a backlog but said the Legislature also passed a bill repealing that program and provided funding to meet outstanding obligations. She said the agency will continue to monitor program and appropriation details as implementation proceeds.

Brune closed by noting federal developments that could affect higher education finance, including provisions in federal HR 1 that address FAFSA asset exemptions, loan limits, repayment options and short‑term Pell eligibility for workforce credentials; she said the agency will share more detailed guidance with institutions as it becomes available. She also reminded the committee the agency will publish a legislative report in August and that the Higher Edge conference will be held Dec. 8–10 at the AT&T Center in Austin.

Why it matters: Committee members and agency staff said the session’s investments materially expand the state’s role in student aid, research, and the data infrastructure that supports admissions and advising. The decisions will change THECB’s program responsibilities and the scale of funds the agency administers beginning with the next biennium.

Brune said staff will return with implementation details and monitoring metrics as the agency begins to operationalize the funded items and statutory directives.","At a July 23 meeting of the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Agency Operations Committee, staff summarized outcomes from the 89th Texas Legislature, including large appropriations for research, data modernization and student financial aid and new statutory duties tied to outreach tools and application-fee waivers.","actionData","errors"]

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THECB committee reviews fiscal report, loan and bond outlook and adopts operating budget for 2026–27

THECB committee reviews 89th legislative session, highlights major investments in student aid, research and technology