TXCPA Legislative Priority Signed by Governor

Published: May 14, 2025

On May 8, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the first piece of TXCPA’s priority legislation for the 2025 legislative session. Senate Bill 262 passed unanimously by the Legislature, will create an additional pathway to CPA licensure in Texas.

Last Week in the Legislature

By Kenneth Besserman
Director of Government Affairs and Special Counsel

May 9, 2025 | Issue 15 

AUSTIN - On May 8, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the first piece of TXCPA’s priority legislation for the 2025 legislative session. Senate Bill 262, authored by Senator Charles Perry, CPA and Representative Angie Chen Button, CPA, and passed unanimously by the Legislature, will create an additional pathway to CPA licensure in Texas.

Passage of SB 262 makes Texas one of the first states to address CPA licensure pathways — and the very first large state to pass such legislation. The new law takes effect on Aug. 1, 2026.

Senate Bill 262 will add an additional pathway to CPA licensure requiring the completion of a bachelor’s degree with anaccounting concentration, two years of relevant work experience, and the passage of the CPA exam.

This new pathway to licensure will be added to the existing pathways of 150 hours and master’s degree, both with the requirement of one year of work experience and passage of the CPA exam. Texas will be a leader in offering educational and experiential flexibility to students with varying educational, financial, and time constraints.

Years of discussions among state CPA societies, the AICPA, and other stakeholders — including numerous committees and advisory groups — have highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the CPA pipeline. One key solution has been reevaluating how CPAs become licensed and finding ways to revise educational and experience requirements to encourage more individuals to pursue licensure. Most states are now addressing the issue with a handful of states already passing the bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience pathway, and dozens of other states amid their legislative sessions and many more likely to address the issue before 2027.

The second piece of TXCPA’s 2025 legislative agenda, Senate Bill 522, is also very close to becoming law. The bill is currently sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature. SB 522 will modernize and individualize CPA practice mobility into Texas. Updating and modernizing CPA practice mobility has become paramount as states begin to add additional pathways to CPA licensure.

Passing Senate Bills 262 and 522 could not have happened without the support and leadership of Senator Perry and Representative Button. Both are CPAs and understand the changing environment of the CPA landscape and the need to provide support for students to enter the field and become licensed. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Senator Perry and Rep. Button for their hard work, dedication, and support for the CPA profession and TXCPA. Many thanks and congratulations are also due to TXCPA’s dedicated key persons, advocates, and members who contributed so substantially to this major legislative success.

Only 23 days left in the session!!

 

 

 

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