SUL ROSS STATE RIO GRANDE COLLEGE EXPANSION TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PASSED TEXAS HOUSE AND SENATE

Austin, TX - Today, the Texas Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1022, paving the way for Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College to become a four-year institution serving South Central Texas. For decades, our region has dreamed of having a comprehensive university close to home. With the passage of HB 1022, that dream is finally becoming a reality for generations of students and families.

For years, young people in our communities have had to leave home to earn a degree-often taking on significant debt and too often not returning to invest their talents in our region. HB 1022 changes that. By creating a local, affordable, high-quality four-year university, we are not only opening doors for students who might otherwise be left behind-we are investing in our future workforce, our economy, and our communities.

Representative Morales said, "This is a turning point for our region. For too long, our students have had to leave home to chase opportunity. Today, we begin to bring that opportunity home. By expanding Sul Ross Rio Grande College into a four-year university, we're not just opening the doors to higher education, we're building the foundation for long-term economic growth, stronger communities, and generational change. This is a transformative moment, and it's just the beginning. We will continue working to make South Central Texas the envy of the entire Rio Grande, where students stay, succeed, and shape the future right here at home. I am thankful to the overwhelming support of my House colleagues, Senator Cesar Blanco for securing HB 1022's passage in the Texas Senate, and for Senator Roland Gutierrez for being a Joint Sponsor. I would also like to thank Jorge Barrera and Morris Libson for their unwavering advocacy for this expansion at the local level."

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