Last Thursday, April 6, 2023, the House Public Education Committee held a formal meeting to vote out the following bills, which will now go to the full House for consideration:
CSHB 1605 (Buckley, et al.) – Passed with 11-2 vote (Allen, Hinojosa opposing) – This bill, as filed, was heard in committee March 21. TASA, TACS, and IMCAT submitted written testimony “on” the bill. The fiscal note for HB 1605 as filed indicates a negative impact of over $843 million through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. TEA anticipates the need for 58 FTEs to implement the bill, which is related to instructional material and technology, the adoption and revision of essential knowledge and skills of the public school foundation curriculum, and creating allotments for the procurement of certain instructional materials under the Foundation School Program; it authorizes a fee. A committee substitute was passed April 6. Substitute language is not yet available.
CSHB 11 (Dutton, et al.) – Passed with a 10-2 vote (Allen, Hinojosa opposing) – The committee substitute for this bill was heard in committee April 4. TASA, TASB, TACS, and TEPSA submitted joint written testimony “on” the bill, while several superintendents testified in support of HB 11. It relates to the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators, including financial and other assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators. Chairman Dutton stated that the bill is intended to promote teacher quality.
CSHB 2162 (Dutton) – Passed with a 9-4 vote (Allen, Cunningham, Hinojosa, Schaefer opposing) – This bill, as filed, was heard in committee March 21. TASA and several other education organizations submitted written testimony in opposition to the bill as filed. It addresses various aspects of reading instruction and dyslexia intervention in public schools and open-enrollment charter schools. Find a full summary by searching for HB 2162 in TASA’s Bill Tracker.A committee substitute was passed April 6. Substitute language is not yet available.
CSHB 2234 (Thompson) – Passed with a 13-0 vote – A committee substitute for this bill was heard in committee March 28. It relates to certain policies and procedures for the placement and use of video cameras in certain classrooms, including classrooms that provide special education services.
HB 2411 (Talarico) – Passed with a 13-0 vote – A committee substitute for this bill was heard in committee April 4. The bill would permit the administration of opioid antagonists in public schools, charter schools, private schools, and institutions of higher education. School districts (public, charter, and private) would be permitted to adopt and implement a policy regarding maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists at each campus in the district or school. Read a full summary by searching for HB 2411 in TASA’s Bill Tracker.
HB 2891 (Talarico) – Passed with a 13-0 vote – A committee substitute for this bill was heard in committee April 4. It would permit a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school to adopt and implement a policy regarding the maintenance, administration, and disposal of Glucagon medication at each campus in the district or school.
