Higher Education Coordinating Board adopts consolidated loan rules, implements changes to Texas Armed Services scholarship under House Bill 300

The Higher Education Coordinating Board voted to adopt a package of new and amended rules that consolidate student-loan regulations into a new chapter and implement statutory changes for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship program enacted by House Bill 300.

Board staff said the rulemaking moves existing loan-related provisions into a new Chapter 24 to provide clearer guidance on loan servicing and to make it easier to pursue future loan-related rule initiatives. "Creating a separate chapter for our loan operations offers several advantages, including the ability to provide more comprehensive guidance about loan servicing," said Dr. Cantero, a board presenter.

The package includes: updates to rules governing the mental health professional loan repayment assistance program (new section 23.103); new rules for the College Access Loan program (rules 24.4–24.46); rules for a "future occupations and reskilling" forward loan program (rules 24.5–24.59) that add one substantive eligibility change; new rules for converted Texas Armed Services scholarships (rules 24.7–24.74); and amendments to Chapter 22 that implement changes to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship program under House Bill 300.

Board presenters said most of the relocations and clarifying edits are non‑substantive and do not change how programs are administered. A staff presenter noted that a public comment from the Texas Medical Association asking clarifying changes to the…