This podcast contains comments from Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp during the October 11, 2021 A&M faculty senate meeting.

The governor on Friday, added higher education funding to the agenda of the legislature's third special session.

That was followed by the House Appropriations Committee being assigned to take up a proposed constitutional amendment that if approved would move half of the money the University of Texas system receives from the permanent university fund (PUF) to other public universities.

On Monday, Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp told the A&M faculty senate the current language of HJR nine and SJR nine keeps their share from the PUF the same.

Sharp said his concern is if the legislation reaches the House floor, there could be an attempt to reduce some portion of A&M's share of the PUF.

The legislation was filed by state lawmakers representing Texas Tech. Sharp says it was done after the University of Texas decided to move to the Southeastern Conference.

Because it's a proposed constitutional amendment, approval is needed by two-thirds of both the Texas House and Senate.

If the legislation is signed, voters would decide in the May 2022 election.

Copy and paste this link to read SJR nine: https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SJR9-PUF_092121.pdf

Copy and paste this link to read the governor's order: https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/AbbottSpSessHigherEd101521.pdf