BUILDING A BETTER TEXAS TOGETHER!

Texas House Texas House Passes H.B. 2853, Paving the Way for a New UTEP Student Union

Student-approved measure empowers local governance and invests in student success

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 2853, a key step toward building a new, modern student union at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The legislation allows UTEP to adjust its student union fee to fund a long-overdue upgrade to one of the most vital spaces on campus—benefiting current and future generations of students.

The current student union, first opened in 1949, has served the UTEP community for over 75 years. As enrollment has grown to over 25,000 students, so have the demands for services and spaces that foster academic success, wellness, leadership, and belonging.

This effort is student-driven: in September 2024, UTEP students approved a phased-in fee increase—from $30 to $150 per semester—to invest in a new facility that will house academic advising, mental health counseling, career development, and vibrant community gathering spaces.

“This vote of support from the Texas House honors the voices of UTEP students and the power of our community to invest in its future,” said Representative Vincent Perez, the bill’s author. "It's about ensuring students have the spaces they need to thrive—inside and outside the classroom.”

H.B. 2853 is a reflection of UTEP’s commitment to access, opportunity, and upward mobility. By reinvesting in campus infrastructure, the university is continuing its legacy of empowering students from all walks of life to reach their highest potential.

The bill now moves to the Texas Senate for further consideration.

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Vince Perez is State Representative for House District 77 in El Paso. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee as well the committees on Higher Education and Local, Consent, and Resolutions Calendars. He is the former El Paso County Commissioner for Precinct 3 and was named the 2016 County Leader of the Year by American City & County Magazine. He is a lifelong resident of El Paso's Mission Valley, where he lives with his dogs Whiskey, Lady, and Manchas.