With just five weeks left in the legislative session, the pace of activity is picking up. Of the 8,691 House or Senate bills that have been filed, less than 20 percent (about 1,500 bills) will actually become law by the end of the session. As of today, only six bills have passed in both chambers with only one signed by the governor. Bottom line…there’s a lot of work to be done before June 2!
One of the six bills that have been passed in both chambers is Senate Bill 2, the voucher/ ESA bill. The bill is awaiting Governor Abbott’s signature which is expected in the next few days.
RISD Priority Bills That Are Moving
Improving School Discipline –House Bill 6 (also moving are Senate Bills 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1924, 1925)
School funding – Increase basic allotment – House Bill 2
School Safety & Security – Senate Bill 260, House Bill 124
Special Education – House Bill 2, Senate Bill 568
Pre-K – House Bill 2, House Bill 124, Senate Bill 2252
Workforce Development – House BIll 20
Teachers – House Bill 2, Senate Bill 26
Accountability – House Bill 4, Senate Bill 1962
Senate Priority Education Bills
Senate Bill 10 – Placing the Ten Commandments in School
Senate Bill 11 – Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School
Senate Bill 12 – Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights
Senate Bill 13 – Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools
Senate Bill 24 – Educating Texas Students about the perils of Communism
Senate Bill 25 – Making Texas Healthy Again
Senate Bill 27 – Establishing a Teacher Bill of Rights
Other Bills Impacting Public Schools
SB 4 – increases the homestead exemption
HB 8 – reducing the school district M&O tax rates
HB 1481 – requires districts to adopt policies prohibiting student use of personal communications devices.
Next Week: The House and Senate Education committees continue to meet weekly (or sometimes twice a week) See the agenda for House Public Education bills here, and Senate Education here.
Watch the Texas House in session.
Watch House committee meetings.
Watch the Texas Senate in session.
Watch Senate committee hearings.
Legislative Corner is published periodically throughout the 89th Texas legislative session. For more information about RISD’s legislative involvement and priorities, please visit the legislative page here. Other resources include Texas Legislature Online (TLO) – find legislation (bills), committee hearings, legislative member info, and more; The Quorum Report – sign-up for “Daily Buzz” or a listing of political news articles; Texas Tribune – online daily news, also a data dashboard for education.
