Texas Lawmakers Introduce Bills Aimed at Limiting Scholarships for International Students

A pair of new bills have been introduced by Texas lawmakers that would cap the number of athletics scholarships available to international student-athletes. 

According to Front Office Sports, the first bill was introduced in the state Senate by Republican Brandon Creighton on Feb. 14, and a companion bill was introduced in the state House by Republican Rep. Drew Darby on Feb. 20. The bills would both mandate that public colleges in Texas only offer 25% of total “athletic scholarships, grants, or other financial assistance” to athletes who aren’t U.S. citizens each year. 

“Athletic scholarships are a critical component of higher education for many U.S. students who cannot afford the costs of tuition,” a source involved in the legislation tells FOS. “These scholarships provide a pathway to academic success and career advancement, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.” The source suggests that allowing foreign athletes to receive athletic scholarship money, partially funded by American taxpayer dollars, “undermines the primary goal of non-revenue collegiate sports, which is to provide educational opportunities for U.S. citizens.” 

Front Office Sports reported that neither bills were introduced with a press release. 

“Despite what you may be led to believe, college sports are not a business, and our universities will not be in the business of maximizing profit for shareholders but providing educational and athletic opportunities for the American citizens whose tax dollars fund their operations," Darby said in an email to FOS. "The legislation still allows for foreign recruits to play on scholarship but ensures that the system is not being abused to recruit talent for the sole purpose of winning and deviating from the sacred mission of post-secondary education.”