Legislative Information
Legislative Update, November 27, 2023
The Texas House and Senate convene today. As of this writing, no bills are scheduled to be heard in either chamber, but there is an expectation that the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on HB 2 and HJR 1 (school safety bills) sometime this week. House Bill 2 addresses one of the items on the Governor’s call for this fourth special session: Legislation related to school safety measures and related state funding mechanisms.
On November 21, the Senate referred HJR 1 and HB 2 – the school safety bills – to the Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2 (school safety), currently on awaiting a hearing in the Senate along with HJR 1, provides $1.1 billion annually for school safety programs. The bill provides funding based on the size of a campus:
- $50,000 per campus for under 500 students
- $100,000 per campus for 501 to 1,000 students
- $150,000 per campus for 1,001 to 1,500 students
- $175,000 per campus for 1,501 to 2,000 students
- $200,000 per campus for over 2,000 students
Based on the current legislation, RISD would receive approximately $5 million to support school safety. The School Safety Plan Implementation Grant Program, also part of HB 2, would provide grants to schools for the reimbursement of expenditures for required school safety plans. Funding for this program would be limited to $250 million in total per year.
HJR 1 provides the method of finance for these programs by establishing a School Safety Fund to be administered by the Comptroller through a constitutional amendment referendum on May 4, 2024. The Fund is created using allocations from various potential revenue sources, including the State Highway Fund, General Revenue, and the Economic Stabilization Fund.
RISD supports both HB 2 and HJR 1 as they provide funding for the mandate passed by the legislature last spring in House Bill 3 that requires school districts to hire security officers for every school campus.
Legislative Update, November 17, 2023
Vouchers Are Rejected
The House voted in favor (84 to 63) of an amendment to House Bill 1 to remove the education savings account provisions from the bill.
The bill’s author, Chairman Brad Buckley, referred the HB 1 back to the committee which is basically a procedural move that kills the bill. Buckley indicated upon adjournment that he does not intend to have another committee hearing on the bill. So HB 1 is dead (for now).
The bill’s author, Chairman Brad Buckley, referred the HB 1 back to the committee which is basically a procedural move that kills the bill. Buckley indicated upon adjournment that he does not intend to have another committee hearing on the bill. So HB 1 is dead (for now).
School Safety Bill Passes
With overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats, the legislation (House Bill 2) dedicated to school safety and security, and the corresponding resolution(HJR 1) to commit funding to school safety, passed in the House today and will now go to the Senate.
Thanks to those of you who contacted your legislator in support of public education.
Thanks to those of you who contacted your legislator in support of public education.
2023 Legislative Priorities
The Richardson ISD Board of Trustees supports legislation that places student and educator safety, as well as student academic achievement, as top priorities while allowing school districts to make decisions based on what is best for their local school community. RISD Trustees look to the 88th Legislature to allocate the resources and support necessary for teachers and administrators to prepare students to meet and exceed state standards and to become productive citizens. RISD Trustees believe data and research from experts should be used to inform legislation, while allowing that decisions regarding implementation be made by those closest to the students and their families.
We Support:
Measures To Enhance School Safety
- Allow school districts the option to prohibit school buildings from being used as polling places on any day school is in session, except on the November Election Day
- Increase the school safety allotment and allow local control for school safety measures that should include:
- Securing campuses
- Training for school personnel
- Mental Health support with specialized counselors
- RISD Resolution to Modify Voting Days (PDF)
Measures To Address Teacher Recruitment, Retainment and Retraining
- Elevate the teaching profession by initiating a statewide campaign to support and advocate for the teaching profession.
- Provide state-funded benefits for educators like paid leave for new parents, reduced insurance premiums and deductibles, State Parks and Recreations or DMV benefits, etc.
- Provide pay incentives to recruit new teachers and retain veteran teachers that is separate and apart from the Teacher Incentive Allotment
- Allow flexibility in certifications to allow districts to fill high-need openings
- Suspend the TRS penalty for rehiring retired teachers
Measures To Establish A Fair Public School Funding System
- Increase the basic allotment to allow for inflation
- Increase the state’s share of funding education to allow for local property tax reduction
- Ensure that all funds collected by the State from public school districts (ISDs) are only distributed to school districts (ISDs) and are not allocated to other entities, institutions or other areas of the State budget
- Provide flexibility in spending requirements
- Eliminate unfunded mandates
- Reduce state reliance on recapture by limiting the percentage of recapture allowed
Measures To Enhance The State’s Accountability System
- Specify that any public tax dollars used to fund education for any institution (public, charter, home or private school) shall be held accountable to taxpayers by complete participation of the education institution in the state’s accountability system that measures student achievement (STAAR)
- Allow national assessments that contribute to student acceptance into institutions of higher education like PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, or IB to be used in place of end-of-course exams with no penalty to the student or school district
- Ensure that emergent bilingual students do not receive more testing than other students
Furthermore, RISD Trustees Support:
- Prioritizing local control in all legislation to ensure those closest to the community and voters are held accountable
- Ensuring that all school districts are allowed representation (in all forms) before the Texas legislature and executive branch
- Clarifying required bond language to include information for voters that indicates a proposed tax rate may reduce the amount of taxes owed
Contact
- Liz Morse
Government Relations
liz.morse@risd.org
214-718-8380
Richardson ISD State Legislators
Below is list of state legislators who represent Richardson ISD. To find the legislator who represents you visit Who Represents Me? and enter your home address.
Representative Ana-Maria Ramos, House District 102
- Email: Ana-Maria.Ramos@house.texas.gov
- Office: 512-463-0454
Representative Morgan Meyer, House District 108
- Email: Morgan.Meyer@house.texas.gov
- Local Office: 214-239-1257
- Austin Office: 512-463-0367
Representative Angie Chen Button, House District 112
- Email: Angie.Button@house.texas.gov
- Local Office: 972-234-8980
- Austin Office: 512-463-0486
Representative John W. Bryant, House District 114
- Email: John.Bryant@house.texas.gov
- Austin Office: 512-463-0576
Senator Bob Hall, Senate District 2
- Email: Bob.Hall@senate.texas.gov
- Local Office: 972-722-3131
- Austin Office: 512-463-0102
Senator Tan Parker, Senate District 12
- Email: Tan.Parker@senate.texas.gov
- Local Office: 972-724-8477
- Austin Office: 512-463-0112
Senator Nathan Johnson, Senate District 16
- Email: Nathan.Johnson@senate.texas.gov
- Local Office: 972-701-0349
- Austin Office: 512-463-0116
Richardson ISD Federal Legislators
- Washington D.C. Office: 202-224-2934
- Washington D.C. Office: 202-224-5922
- Washington D.C. Office: 202 225-2231
- Local Office: 972-972-7949