The Texas Senate approved a bill on Tuesday, April 11 that calls for the creation of Texas University Fund (TUF). 

Per LegiScan, Senate Bill (SB) 19 describes the fund as essential to helping four-year institutions “in achieving national prominence as major research universities.” 

As of Friday, the online legislation database showed, SB 19, which was filed by State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and is classified as “slight partisan,” was referred to the House Committee on Higher Education.

Spectrum News reported that the TUF seeks to boost research at four flagship university campuses in the state: Namely, the University of Houston (UH), the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas State University in San Marcos and Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock.

In a statement issued by his office following the Senate’s passage of the measure, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the legislation could prove beneficial for the state’s economy. 

“Cutting-edge research and innovation are occurring at Texas universities, adding fuel to our economic engine,” Patrick, who’s the president of the upper chamber of the Texas Legislature, said. “The new Texas University Fund will provide funding for our non-Permanent University Fund (PUF) universities so we can continue powering the Texas and American economy forward for decades to come.” 

Per the statement, the PUF, which provides significant support to the larger University of Texas (UT) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) systems, has an endowment close to $32 billion.

Each of the four TUF-eligible schools have their research priorities, Spectrum News reported.

UH is devoted to affordable health care and drug discovery and development, TTU and Texas State have research parks with accelerator programs and UNT works in mostly plant science, renewable energy and computational research, the report said.

According to Spectrum News, should it all garner approval in both chambers and the governor’s signature, it'll be presented to Texas voters in the fall.