Relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education from considering a student's immigration status for purposes of the institution's disciplinary process.

HB 978 prohibits Texas public colleges and universities from using a student's immigration status when making disciplinary decisions, such as suspensions or expulsions. The bill adds a new section to the Education Code requiring institutions to exclude immigration status from all disciplinary proceedings. This directly affects immigrant students and public higher education institutions across Texas, ensuring their immigration status cannot influence campus disciplinary outcomes. The law would take effect on September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.