08:38 AM CDT on Monday, May 15, 2006

Associated Press

AUSTIN -- Texas universities would be able to fund $1.8 billion in new classrooms, research, medical and performing arts centers by issuing bonds to be repaid with future tuition under legislation approved Sunday in the Senate.

The bill would allow 63 projects to move forward, including $8 million for a Texas Tech pharmacy school in Amarillo and a Texas State University campus in Round Rock.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said passage of the measure “ensured the future of higher education in Texas is bright and that we can even better prepare our future leaders.”

The House already has approved the measure, but still must agree to changes made by the Senate before it can go to the governor’s desk and become law.

Dewhurst said he expects the House to agree to the Senate’s changes, based on conversations with House Speaker Tom Craddick.  But if the House doesn’t, it would be difficult for the legislation to be adopted. The current 30-day special session ends Tuesday.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rated hundreds of project requests according to need and senators culled the list.