Capitol Watch Alert Archive
Vouchers Died with HB 100, but So Did Most New Funding
On Saturday, Chairman Ken King, author of HB 100, announced that the bill would not be passed. When HB 100 returned to the House from the Senate it had a universal ESA/voucher program attached to it. "In a good faith effort, the House continued to negotiate with the...
Budget Conference Committee Releases Report
The conference committee charged with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of HB 1, the state budget bill, has released its report. The budget calls for about $33 billion in general revenue and $63.5 billion in all funds for public...
HB 100 Goes to Conference Committee
Chairman Ken King, author of HB 100, refused to concur with Senate amendments to the bill on Thursday and requested the appointment of a conference committee to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate versions. The House conferees are: Reps. King,...
Action Alert: Voucher Bill Back in House; Contact Your Rep Today
The 88th legislative session ends Monday, and as noted in this TASA Capitol Watch Alert, CSHB 100, as amended by the Senate, includes a voucher/ESA provision and only a meager increase to the Basic Allotment at a time when the state has an unprecedented surplus of...
Senate Returns Voucher-Laden CSHB 100 to House
The Texas Senate passed CSHB 100 on a vote of 18-13 just before midnight last night (Tuesday, May 23). The bill, originally focused on teacher retention and pay increases, was substituted in the Senate Education Committee with a version containing many provisions TASA...
Senate Education Committee Votes Out More House Bills
The Senate Education Committee reconvened on Monday, May 22, and voted out the following House bills related to K-12: HB 114 (Thompson) gives public schools discretion in placing in a DAEP a student who possesses, uses, or is under the influence of marijuana on or...
Senate Education Committee Votes Out Sub for HB 100 Containing ESA/Voucher
The Senate Education Committee met this morning (Monday, May 22) to conduct a hearing that wasn't called until late Sunday night. The only agenda item was the committee substitute for HB 100. The 133-page bill, originally focused on teacher retention and pay raises,...
Action Alert: Voucher in Sub for HB 100 on Senate Ed Agenda Today
Late Sunday night, the Senate Education Committee posted a hearing notice for today, Monday, May 22, at 8:30 a.m. with the only agenda item being the committee substitute for HB 100. The 133-page bill has been amended with many provisions TASA members have opposed...
Fund Texas Public Schools, Not Voucher Schemes
With the 88th legislative session quickly coming to a close, and the major bill that would increase funding for public school students through an increase to the Basic Allotment (BA) stalled in the Texas Senate, the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)...
May 18: Senate Education Committee to Hear Another Round of House Bills
The Senate Education Committee will meet starting at 9 a.m., Thursday, May 18, to hear testimony on the following K-12 bills, which have been passed by the House: HB 890 (Keith Bell) requires school districts to adopt policies related to the processing of complaints...
Senate Education Votes Out Two Health-Related House Bills
Before adjourning to go to the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 17, the Senate Education Committee voted out the following bills related to K-12 that have already been passed by the House: HB 1002 (Price, et al.) provides for the inclusion of a licensed chiropractor or...
Senate Education Committee Votes Out House School Safety Bill
The Senate Education Committee held a formal meeting Tuesday, May 17, and voted out the following bills related to K-12: HB 3 (Burrows/Nichols) is the school safety bill with negotiated language from Rep. Burrows' HB 3, Rep. Ken King's HB 13, and Sen. Nichols' SB 11....
House Public Education Committee Votes Out Senate School Safety, Teacher Rights, 10 Commandments Bills + More
The House Public Education Committee met a second time after the full House adjourned Tuesday, May 16, to vote out the following bills (Senate bills have already been passed by that chamber): SB 11 (Nichols/Ken King) is a school safety bill that combines Sen....
May 17: Senate Education Committee to Hear House Bills on K-12 and Higher Ed
The Senate Education Committee will meet starting at 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 17, to hear testimony on the following K-12 bills, which have been passed by the House: HB 4372 (Oliverson, et al.) authorizes the governing body of a private school that has an enrollment of...
House Public Education Committee Hears Senate Bill on Student Transfers, More
The House Public Education Committee met Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to hear testimony on these Senate bills. Brian Woods testified against SB 418 (Paxton, et al.) on behalf of TASA and the Texas School Alliance. The bill would permit students to transfer to any public...
House Public Education Hears Invited Testimony on SB 8 (Vouchers, Assessment/Accountability)
The House Public Education Committee met Monday, May 15, to hear invited testimony only on a new, 80-page House substitute for CSSB 8, which creates an ESA/voucher program and makes major changes to the assessment/accountability system. Seven panels presented...
May 16: House Public Education Committee to Hear Senate Bills on Student Transfer, Bilingual Ed Funding, More
The House Public Education Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, to hear testimony on the following Senate bills: SB 418 (Paxton et al.) permits students to transfer to any public school that has student capacity available and also prohibits school districts...
Proposed House Substitute for SB 8 Voucher Bill Does Not “Get Rid of STAAR” or “Reduce Testing”
The House committee substitute for the SB 8 voucher bill is 80 pages in length and has not been vetted with testimony through the House Public Education Committee. One misconception about the substitute language is that it gets rid of the STAAR and reduces testing....
May 11: Senate Ed to Hear House’s Safety, Teacher Workforce, Library Bills + More
The Senate Education Committee will meet starting at 9 a.m., Thursday, May 11, to hear testimony on the following House bills: HB 3 (Burrows) would establish various provisions related to school safety and security. Among other provisions, the bill would authorize the...
Action Alert: Urge House Pub Ed/House Members NOT to Support SB 8
The House Public Education Committee is expected to hold a formal meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, May 10) to vote out SB 8 as substituted. A formal meeting does not require public testimony. The committee substitute for SB 8 will create an education savings account (ESA)...