Texas 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Status: Introduced

HB 291 — Relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic standards, and employment decisions in this state.

Last action — Filed

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced August 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

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Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 51.3095, Education Code, Section 51.8425, Education Code, Section 51.9247, Education Code.

  • Section 51.3095, Education Code

    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 shall ensure that at least 50 percent of the 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 or a tiered system with at least four designations. (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.

    added

  • Section 51.8425, Education Code

    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.

    added

  • Section 51.9247, Education Code

    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.

    added

Action History

  1. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 76 co-sponsors · 106 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (76)

Not signed on (106)

106 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 291?
HB 291 is sponsored by Leo Wilson, Terri Leo Wilson, Trey Wharton, Wes Virdell, Denise Villalobos, Cody Vasut, Gary VanDeaver, Ellen Troxclair, Steve Toth, Tony Tinderholt, Carl Tepper, Valoree Swanson, David Spiller, John Smithee, Shelby Slawson, Joanne Shofner, Matt Shaheen, Alan Schoolcraft, Nate Schatzline, Keresa Richardson, Katrina Pierson, Dennis Paul, Jared Patterson, Angelia Orr, Tom Oliverson, Matt Morgan, Brent Money, Morgan Meyer, Will Metcalf, John McQueeney, Don McLaughlin, Shelley Luther, John Lujan, J. M. Lozano, David Lowe, AJ Louderback, Janie Lopez, Mitch Little, Jeff Leach, Brooks Landgraf, Marc LaHood, Stan Kitzman, Helen Kerwin, Carrie Isaac, Todd Hunter, Lacey Hull, Andy Hopper, Janis Holt, Hillary Hickland, Cole Hefner, Richard Hayes, Cody Harris, Sam Harless, Stan Gerdes, Gary Gates, James B. Frank, Caroline Fairly, Paul Dyson, Mark Dorazio, Mano DeAyala, Jay Dean, Pat Curry, Charles Cunningham, Tom Craddick, Giovanni Capriglione, Briscoe Cain, Angie Button, Ben Bumgarner, Brad Buckley, Keith Bell, Cecil Bell, Jeff Barry, Trent Ashby, Daniel Alders, Mike Olcott, Greg Bonnen, David Cook, and Caroline Harris Davila.
What is the current status of HB 291?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced August 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 291?
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Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

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