TX HB1870

Establishes the Texas Higher Education Accreditation Commission, a nine-member body appointed by the governor (3), lieutenant governor (3), and speaker of the house (3), with members serving four-year terms and at least six members required to be employers in target occupation fields

Requires the commission to identify and approve at least three accrediting agencies for Texas public higher education institutions by September 1, 2026, and conduct biennial evaluations rating each agency as unsatisfactory, satisfactory, or exemplary

Mandates evaluation criteria focus on student outcomes including first-year retention rates, graduation rates, employment in related fields within one year, median student loan debt, loan repayment rates within 10 years, and median graduate earnings

Requires institutions accredited by agencies rated unsatisfactory to switch accreditors within 5 years, those with satisfactory-rated accreditors to switch after 15 years, while institutions with exemplary-rated accreditors may remain indefinitely

Authorizes the comptroller to withhold all state funding from institutions that fail to comply with accreditation requirements within 180 days of receiving noncompliance notice from the commission