Building Better Futures program established but left unfunded; agency says implementation stalled

Members received an update on House Bill 2081, which the council recommended and which established the Building Better Futures program at the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

"I don't have an extensive update. It still pretty much aligns with previous comments... because we did not get appropriations or funding for this," Wayland, THECB staff, told the council. "So without funding, we just are unable to put anything or operationalize it, to move further, at this time."

Sabrina Gonzales Alcedo added that the council had requested a funding rider of $1,000,000 to get the program started but that the rider "ultimately did not pass." Members discussed that other states' programs can cost in the order of several hundred thousand to $1 million per program when scoped broadly; Wayland said THECB has not set a specific target appropriation and has not formalized a grant application or eligibility process.

Discussion covered potential next steps if funds are awarded: legislators may set appropriation rules and the agency could establish eligibility and distribution methods through negotiated rulemaking or grant parameters. Meanwhile members suggested modest outreach — using the program inventory and interest questions on the survey — to identify campuses that are already developing programs so THECB can be ready to support them should funding arrive.

The council agreed to continue monitoring legislative developments and to include a recommendation on dedicated funding for Building Better Futures in the 2026 access report.