In 2009, the Texas Senate drew a line in the sand. After watching tuition and fees at the state’s 35 public universities skyrocket by 86% over just six years, lawmakers passed a bill to curb runaway costs. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Judith Zaffirini and supported by then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, sought to restore affordability to a system many believed had spiraled out of control after a pivotal policy shift in 2003.
The 2003 Turning Point
That year, control over tuition rates was handed from the Texas Legislature to individual university governing boards. While the intent was to grant campuses more autonomy, the result was stark: tuition increases far outpaced inflation, pricing many families out of public higher education. As reported by The Dallas Morning News, between 2003 and 2009, costs surged nearly 90%, fueling widespread frustration among students and parents.
The 2009 Legislative Response
In response, the Texas Senate overwhelmingly supported legislation that capped annual tuition increases at 5% for the state’s largest public universities — or limited them to the average rate of inflation, whichever was lower. The bill targeted 17 universities charging above the median tuition rate and explicitly blocked schools from introducing new fees or hidden surcharges.
“There will be no more games played,” said Sen. Zaffirini, echoing the concerns of families across Texas who had grown weary of inconsistent and opaque billing practices.
Lt. Gov. Dewhurst also emphasized the importance of affordability: “We want to make sure all Texans who seek the opportunities higher education can provide are not priced out of a world-class education.”
What Has Happened Since?
Now in 2025, the conversation about college affordability continues — in Texas and across the country. While some states have implemented tuition freezes or expanded free community college programs, others have allowed costs to rise with limited oversight. In Texas, tuition increases have slowed in recent years, but debates remain over whether public higher education is truly accessible to all Texans.
Recent reports show that tuition at many Texas universities remains above the national average, and out-of-pocket costs for students have continued to grow when factoring in housing, textbooks, and fees. The long-term impact of the 2009 law has been mixed: while it helped curb the most aggressive spikes, it didn’t reverse the sharp increases that occurred earlier in the decade.
The Bigger Picture: Tuition Deregulation and Its Consequences
Texas’ experience in the early 2000s is often cited as a case study in tuition deregulation — and the potential pitfalls of shifting financial decisions to campus-level boards without strong guardrails. The backlash in 2009 served as a warning about what happens when cost transparency and accountability are removed from public systems.
As policymakers and families look toward the future, Texas’ story serves as a reminder: affordable public higher education requires active legislative oversight, a clear commitment to equity, and guardrails that prevent cost burdens from falling too heavily on students.
Looking Ahead
With student debt surpassing $1.7 trillion nationally and questions about the value of college degrees on the rise, the need for bold tuition reform remains as urgent in 2025 as it was in 2009. Whether Texas — and other states — will once again lead on affordability is a question that continues to shape the future of higher education.