RICE IN ACTION

The 89th Texas Legislative Session

WHERE
POLICY MEETS
PROGRESS

Rice delivers results that shape Texas and beyond.

The 89th Texas Legislative Session closed on June 2, 2025, after 140 days of policymaking and a record-setting $338 billion budget. Of the 9,275 bills filed, fewer than 1,400 passed — and Rice helped shape some of the most impactful. Rice president Reginald DesRoches made two visits to the Capitol, where Rice leadership played a key role in advancing three major priorities for the university and for Texas.

POLICY AREAS
RICE INFLUENCED

Capitol Engagement
Strategic leadership visits, testimony and coalition-building.

Higher Education and Student Health
Policies that impact students and institutions statewide.

Water and Infrastructure
Environmental expertise informing state investments.

Space and Research Economy
Expanding the scope and strength of Texas’ research leadership.

Health and Brain Science
Major funding wins and public health innovation.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES CHAMPIONING INNOVATION Infographic

MOMENTUM
AND MOVEMENT

Presence, Power, Progress

Capitol Icon

RICE DAY AT THE CAPITOL – APRIL 14

50-plus Rice students, faculty and leaders met with lawmakers.

Celebrated 50-year milestones for:

  • Jones Graduate School of Business
  • Shepherd School of Music
  • George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing
  • Wiess School of Natural Sciences

FROM WATER TO SPACE TO NIL — RICE SHAPED THE OUTCOMES.

RESEARCH SECURITY (HB 127)

Rice worked to include private tier one universities in new security council.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER SUPPORT (SB 1786)

Ensures Rice receives credit for transfer students from local colleges.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE (SB 7)

Rice expertise influenced broader funding for water solutions.

SPACE COMMISSION EXPANSION (HB 5246)

Broadened mission aligns with Rice Space Institute goals..

NIL EXPANSION (HB 126)

Enables student-athlete support before enrollment.

PROPERTY OWNERSHIP PROTECTIONS (SB 17)

Rice helped revise bill language to protect institutional interests.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CREDIT ADJUSTMENT (SB 2431)

Rice worked to ensure study abroad credit policies remain flexible for private institutions.

GURI ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION (SB 1032) (VETOED)

Rice and other private universities would have been eligible to attract global research talent.

Bioengineering faculty testified to show Rice’s research strength.

The bill passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor, who cited the program’s lack of funding from the legislature.