Senate Committee on Education hears five higher-education bills; all left pending

The Senate Committee on Education met to hear testimony on five education bills affecting accreditation, medical workforce training, dual-credit eligibility, campus development rules in Austin and a technical change to testing language; public testimony was closed on each measure and the committee left all five bills pending without a committee vote.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Creighton, included presentations from bill authors and outside witnesses who described the bills' goals and answered committee questions. Senators asked about fiscal effects, overlaps with existing agencies and practical implementation steps; in every case the chair closed public testimony and left the measure pending for further consideration.

Senate Bill 13-22 — accreditation commission: Senator Hagenbu presented legislation to create the Texas Higher Education Accreditation Commission (THAC), a proposed nine-member body appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the Texas House to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for Texas public colleges and universities. Kate Byerly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation testified in favor, saying, "The bill amends the Texas Education Code by…