Proposed legislation related to the formation of a new law school in Cameron or Hidalgo County, Texas has been filed in the Texas Legislature. The proposal, HB 44, was filed by Rep. Mando Martinez (D-Weslaco) on November 10, 2014 -- well before the current legislative session began on January 13, 2015.
If approved, the new legislation would authorize "[t]he
governing board of a university system" to "establish and operate,
as a professional school of the system, a school of law in Cameron
County or Hidalgo County as the governing board considers appropriate." That governing board (presumably the University of Texas System or Texas A & M University System) to "prescribe courses leading to customary degrees offered at other
leading American schools of law and may award those degrees."
A duplicate bill (HB 59) was filed on the same day by Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D- Brownsville).
There presently exist 9 law schools in Texas. The closest one to the RGV is located in San Antonio.
