Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education.

HB 2917 establishes the Building Better Futures Program to provide educational and occupational skills training with support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Texas public and private colleges. The bill requires participating institutions to have U.S. Department of Education approval for transition programs, implement selective admissions, and award certificates upon program completion. It exempts program courses from certain Education Code requirements (Sections 61.0512 and 61.822) and mandates that institutions obtain approval within three years of program selection. This directly affects eligible students (Texas residents with diagnosed disabilities) and higher education institutions seeking to offer inclusive postsecondary opportunities.