Relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad components or programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.
SB 2431 requires Texas public and private universities offering study abroad programs in non-English-speaking countries to provide students enrolled in those programs the option to earn foreign language credit toward their degree. The law applies to institutions with baccalaureate programs that include such study abroad components, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will establish rules to implement this requirement. This policy directly affects students participating in international study programs at Texas universities and the institutions that operate them. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 13, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
The bill text was reformatted from a draft version to the final enrolled version, with minor substantive changes to the effective date and implementation rules. The most significant policy change is that the new foreign language credit requirement for study abroad programs now applies beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year instead of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same, requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad programs at certain institutions of higher education in Texas.
TIMELINE
The effective date of the foreign language credit requirement was changed from the 2025-2026 academic year to the 2026-2027 academic year.
REQUIREMENT
The implementation rules were changed from 'may establish procedures' to 'shall adopt rules,' making the rulemaking requirement mandatory rather than optional.
The rulemaking authority was expanded to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to define which study abroad programs are covered and prescribe how students can earn foreign language credit.
TECHNICAL
The bill text was reformatted from a draft version with line numbers and markup annotations to the final enrolled version with proper formatting and signatures.
Floor votes · Senate May 31, 2025 · House May 27, 2025
How they voted
28–2
Passed
Total votes 30
May 31, 2025
D
Democratic10
90% Yea
R
Republican20
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
59
Key actions
18
Committee
12
Amendments
4
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
Jun 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
lower
May 31, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
upper
May 31, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (28-2)
senate
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 27, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (81-55-10)
house
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Higher Education
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education K-16
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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