TITLE: Relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education.

SUMMARY: Relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 57, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Dto read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. WAIVER OF LICENSE RENEWAL FEES FOR CERTAIN INSTRUCTORS IN HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS Sec. 57.151. WAIVER OF LICENSE RENEWAL FEES. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. (b) This section applies only to a license to practice as: (1) a registered nurse or vocational nurse under Chapter 301; (2) a pharmacist under Chapter 558; (3) a medical radiologic technologist under Chapter 601; (4) a respiratory care practitioner under Chapter 604; (5) an engineer under Chapter 1001; (6) a journeyman plumber or master plumber under Chapter 1301; (7) an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor under Chapter 1302; (8) a journeyman electrician or master electrician under Chapter 1305; (9) an educator under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code; or (10) a bilingual education or special language program teacher under Section 29.061, Education Code. (c) A state agency that issues a license to which this section applies by rule shall waive the license renewal fee for a faculty member as defined by Section 51.101, Education Code, or adjunct professor at an institution of higher education who provides instruction in the field for which the license is required. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.