Texas Senate panel reviews university compliance with new education oversight law
A Texas Senate committee will hear testimony from university leaders about implementing Senate Bill 37, which expands regents' control over curricula and campus governance.
On Tuesday, a Texas Senate committee will hear from leaders of the Texas Tech University System, the University of Texas and the Texas A&M System about their progress in applying Senate Bill 37, which grants governor-appointed regents greater authority over curricula and campus leadership. The law, effective Sept. 1, requires boards to review undergraduate requirements by Jan. 1 and expands oversight of faculty senates.
Critics, including professors and students, plan a separate news conference alleging censorship, and faculty groups have filed lawsuits challenging the restrictions on teaching about gender identity, race and sexuality. The state's new higher-education ombudsman, Brandon Simmons, will testify on enforcement of the law and its ban on DEI programs. Lawmakers will also address a cut in performance-based funding for community colleges and discuss compliance with House Bill 127, which mandates security reviews of foreign-linked researchers at public universities.
Why it matters
The hearing will determine how Texas universities adapt to expanded state control over curricula and funding, affecting academic freedom and college financing.
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