Long road ahead for bill ending in-state tuition for undocumented students

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A bill to repeal the Texas Dream Act, which allows some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities, is expected to be voted on by the Texas Senate in May. The bill was debated at length by a border security subcommittee before passing through the Senate Veterans Affairs and Military Installations committee April 13 on a 4-3 vote.

The Dream Act, approved with strong legislative consent in 2001, allows undocumented students who have lived in Texas for at least three years to pay in-state tuition if they have pledged to apply for legal status as soon as they can. House Bill 1819, drafted by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, would end the Dream Act and replace it with a policy that allows each college to verify a student's legal status to its own satisfaction. Undocumented students would pay out-of-state tuition costs.

The bill would affect the roughly 24,770 students—or two percent of college students in Texas—who are taking advantage of the Dream Act, including around 1,700 students enrolled across Lone Star College campuses in the Greater Houston area. SB 1819 could take effect as early as Sept. 1 if passed.

More than 200 people testified on the Senate floor in April, 195 of whom testified against repealing the Dream Act. The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law, said Ray Laughter, vice chancellor of external affairs with LSCS.

"There is no house companion bill, which means [SB 1819] has to move very quickly and be received very well in the House to go anywhere," Laughter said at the April 9 meeting of the LSCS board of trustees.

If SB 1819 passes through the Senate, it will likely end up in the House's State Affairs committee. Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, chairman of the State Affairs committee, has expressed support for keeping the Dream Act.

"Texas made a commitment to these students, and as Texans we should honor our word," he said. "Additionally, it would seem to me that having educated young people is much more productive for the economy of the state."