As we enter the final three weeks of the 89th Texas Legislative Session, over 8,700 bills have been filed, but many will not advance past upcoming deadlines. Starting Monday, all House bills must have been heard in a House committee, and by Thursday, the full House must pass these bills. While the Senate operates on a later schedule, the regular session concludes for both chambers on June 2.
RISD supports three important bills that are moving through the Senate. House Bill 2, the $7.7 billion school finance bill, is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education K-16 Committee which is anticipated next week. The bill provides a much-needed increase in the basic allotment of $395 per student along with additional funding for special education, the teacher incentive allotment, Pre-K eligibility expansion and more.
House Bill 6, RISD’s top legislative priority, is the bill to improve school discipline and flexibility. HB 6 was heard yesterday in the Senate Education K-16 committee. The next step will be the Senate floor for a vote, and then a possible conference committee.
House Bill 4, significantly improves the state’s accountability system by replacing the STAAR test with three shorter, nationally norm-referenced assessments administered throughout the year. The bill maintains the current A-F system, but includes additional factors that are important to communities like workforce development and extra & co-curricular activities. The bill also requires that rules for the upcoming school year are given to districts by July 15.
As these critical bills advance through the legislative process, there will be opportunities to share your perspectives with legislators. Stay tuned for updates and ways to get involved!
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 House committee meetings. Watch Senate committee hearings.
Watch the Texas Senate in session. Watch the Texas House in session.
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.
