TX HB4499

Requires governing boards of public higher education institutions to appoint General Education Review Committees that annually review core curriculum to ensure courses are foundational, prepare students for civic and professional life, and do not endorse specific ideologies or public policies

Expands governing board authority to approve or deny hiring of leadership positions (vice presidents, provosts, deans), overturn campus administration decisions, and approve job postings for non-STEM tenured faculty positions with 30-day public notice requirements

Restricts faculty councils/senates to advisory-only roles with strict membership limits (two tenured faculty per college), one-year terms with four-year waiting periods for reappointment, and abolishes existing councils by October 1, 2025 unless ratified by governing boards

Establishes the Office of Excellence in Higher Education within the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, led by a governor-appointed director, to investigate reports of institutional noncompliance and serve as intermediary between the legislature, public, and institutions

Requires presidents and provosts to review minor degree and certificate programs every four years for potential consolidation or elimination based on enrollment thresholds (10 completions for undergraduate, 3 enrolled and 3 completions for graduate programs) and workforce demand data