State Senate Advances TX SB 1798 to End Texas Dream Act Against Advice of Businesses, Educators, Economists, and Faith Leaders

Authored by Chelsie Kramer, American Immigration Council

Tuesday, the Texas Senate Committee on Education advanced TX SB 1798 — a bill that would repeal the Texas Dream Act, one of the most successful, bipartisan workforce policies in our state’s history.

This happened despite overwhelming opposition from Texans across the political spectrum: business leaders, chambers of commerce, educators, economists, community advocates, and faith leaders all showed up to say the same thing — this repeal is bad for business, bad for our workforce, and bad for Texas.

Let’s be clear:

• The Texas Dream Act was signed into law in 2001 by Gov. Rick Perry after it passed the Texas house 142-1 and the Senate 27-3.
• It allows undocumented students who’ve lived in Texas for at least three years and graduated from a Texas high school to qualify for in-state tuition. 
• These students are Texans. They are our future engineers, nurses, teachers, and business owners.

And the results speak volumes, research by American Immigration Council shows:

• Students benefiting from the Dream Act have earned $33 billion more due to increased access to higher education, driving $28.5 billion in additional economic output.
• In 2021 alone, they contributed $81.6 million in tuition and fees to Texas colleges and universities.
• Repealing the law could cost the state over $461 million every single year in lost wages, lost spending power, and economic slowdown.

This is not a political issue — it’s an economic one. Texas is a national leader because we’ve invested in talent, no matter where someone was born. Rolling back this policy would send the opposite message. Incredible leaders like the Texas Business Leadership Council, Texas Association of Business, Greater Houston Partnership, North Texas Commission, and many more agree.

The Texas Legislature has a choice: choose economics and workforce by standing up for the Texas Dream Act, or pander to the lowest common denominator.

Keep Texas a place where hard work, not immigration status, determines your future.

A review of public comments submitted to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education reveals over 97% of Texans who commented on TX HB 232 that would Repeal the Texas Dream Act oppose it. Read more coverage here: Opposition mounts against TX HB 232 and SB 1798 Repeal of In-State Tuition for Undocumented Texans.