In a year in which many Texans’ wallets have gotten smaller and the overall state budget outlook is significantly less than in recent bienniums, State Rep. Jeff Cason (R–Bedford) announced that he intends to file a bill to end in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
The same bill was filed during the 86th Legislative Session in 2019 by State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg), but it never received a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee, which was and is currently chaired by Democrat State Rep. Chris Turner (Grand Prairie).
Likewise, former State Rep. Jonathan Stickland filed the same bill during both the 84th (2013) and 85th (2015) Legislative Sessions, where it was referred to the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by former Republican State Rep. Byron Cook. But the bill met the same fate and never received hearings.
“Texans’ tax dollars should not be used to reward and encourage illegal immigration to our state and nation,” said Cason. “ As Texas taxpayers are seeing their property taxes rise, they are rightfully even more frustrated to find out that the Texas Legislature has seen fit to give handouts to illegal immigrants. This must end now.”
Fellow freshman State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royse City) has indicated he intends to joint-author the bill.
“This is a clear promise that Republicans have made to Texas voters. We cannot allow taxpayer-funded magnets, aimed at those in our state illegally, to continue to be funded while priorities like property tax relief go ignored. Now is the time to deliver results,” said Slaton.
In a year in which the Legislature faces a tighter budget than in years past, and college tuition rates continue to climb, ending in-state tuition subsidies for illegal aliens may prove to be one way the state can address both issues at once.
