The House Education Committee announced a hearing for 8 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, to hear testimony on the following bills:
HB 6 Leach – Relating to discipline in public schools. This bill aims to reform and clarify the disciplinary practices in Texas public schools, particularly regarding student suspensions and expulsions. It enables school officials to exercise discretion in manners previously limited by state law. With the new provisions, principals can impose in-school or out-of-school suspensions for conduct violating the student code of conduct. A notable change is the new criteria that prevent out-of-school suspension for students below grade three unless they engage in severe disruptive behaviors or pose health and safety threats. Additionally, the bill imposes special considerations for homeless students, prohibiting their suspension unless they commit specific serious infractions. It outlines a clear criterion for placing students in alternative education programs for various offenses, including severe criminal conduct. Importantly, the legislation increases the role of virtual disciplinary programs, permitting school districts to utilize these for expelled students, allowing them to continue their education remotely. Finally, provisions are introduced empowering school districts to seek court injunctions for students deemed a danger, ensuring student safety while maintaining compliance with educational mandates. By repealing outdated regulations, the bill presents a more structured approach to managing student behavior while preserving educational opportunities wherever possible. The new regulations will go into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
HB 27 King – Relating to courses in personal financial literacy and economics for high school students in public schools. Changes graduation social studies credit requirements by requiring a student to have one half credit in a stand-alone Personal Financial Literacy course (currently a student can choose between one-half credit PFL/Eco combo course or stand-alone Economics course). Changes Economics from a one-half to a one full credit course option that includes World History and World Geography.
HB 123 Dutton –
- Mandates that ISDs receive an amount equal to the basic allotment multiplied by 0.11 (currently 0.1 is the multiplier) in their Early Education Allotment (EEA) for K-3 students.
- Requires an ISD to use its EEA to pay a stipend (as determined by commissioner) to a K-3 classroom teacher who attends a reading academy outside contracted hours.
- Entitles K-3 teachers who attend a math academy to receive a stipend but unlike reading academy provisions, the bill does not specify that the stipend be paid by the school district.
- Establishes new reading intervention and math interventionist academies.
- Requires a 12-month intervention for K-3 students whose results on two consecutive K-3 early literacy instruments indicate the student is at risk, as determined by the commissioner, of not achieving satisfactory performance.
- Establishes a new Early Literacy Intervention Allotment.
- Allows a parent to opt their child out of the early literacy instrument administration and subsequent 12 months of intervention.
- Requires by 2030-31 that each K-8 math teacher and each principal, assistant principal, math coach, and math interventionist at a campus with that has a campus that includes K-8 to attend a math academy.
Read a full summary of HB 123.
HB 210 Guillen – Relating to contracting with a school district by a vendor with whom a member of the board of trustees of the district or a related individual has certain business interests. The proposed legislation outlines new restrictions on vendors seeking to contract with school districts in Texas, aimed at preventing conflicts of interest. Specifically, it establishes that a vendor is committing an offense if any member of the school district’s board of trustees has a substantial interest in their business. A substantial interest is defined as owning more than 10 percent of the voting interest in the vendor or having a significant share in profits or capital gains. Violators face a Class C misdemeanor for their first offense, which elevates to a Class B misdemeanor for the second, a Class A misdemeanor for the third, and a state jail felony for a fourth or subsequent offense. Additionally, if a vendor compensates a board member in exchange for securing a contract, any offense is automatically classified as a state jail felony. The bill is designed to promote transparency and integrity within school district contracting processes, taking effect on September 1, 2025. This legislation intends to protect public resources from exploitation and safeguard the ethical conduct of board members in Texas school districts.
HB 213 Gonzalez, Mary – Relating to the inclusion of chronically absent students as students at risk of dropping out of school and the collection and reporting of data regarding those students. The bill, authored by Mary Gonzalez, aims to enhance the Texas Education Code by addressing the issue of student absenteeism and its correlation to dropout risks. It explicitly includes chronically absent students in the definition of “students at risk of dropping out of school.” This change underscores the importance of attendance as a critical factor influencing student retention. A “chronically absent student” is defined as any student who misses more than 10 percent of instructional minutes within either a school year or a six-week grading period. The bill mandates that all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools report on various attendance and support metrics, which now include a new requirement to report the number of chronically absent students enrolled, along with their demographics. Further, the bill establishes that the data on chronic absenteeism must be aggregated by the education agency and made accessible to the public. This move is designed to increase awareness and foster measures to combat absenteeism effectively. The provisions within the bill will go into effect on September 1, 2025, creating a framework for better identification and support for at-risk students within the educational system.
HB 222 Talarico – Relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment (SSA) under the Foundation School Program. Allows the SSA to be used for professional development for educators that includes training in classroom behavioral management.
HB 610 Leo Wilson, et al. – Relating to a severance payment to a superintendent of a school district. The proposed legislation outlines significant changes to regulations regarding severance payments for superintendents of independent school districts in Texas. It specifically defines and restricts severance payments, emphasizing financial accountability. Under the amended Section 11.201(c) of the Education Code, a severance payment is defined as any payment that exceeds the salary and benefits earned by a superintendent at the time of their termination. The bill caps such payments at six months’ salary and benefits from the terminated contract, a reduction from the prior limit of one year’s salary. This aims to ensure that school districts exercise more financial prudence when it comes to compensating departing superintendents. Another critical aspect is the requirement for school boards making severance payments to report the details to the commissioner. Should a payment exceed the stipulated cap, the district’s Foundation School Program funds would be reduced accordingly, creating a financial disincentive for excessive severance arrangements. This act will take effect on September 1, 2025, and governs only new agreements made after this date, maintaining existing laws for agreements made before the enactment to ensure clarity and continuity in governance.
HB 1085 Curry – Relating to the offering of a lifetime recreation and outdoor pursuits course to satisfy the physical education curriculum requirements for public high school students. This bill introduces a new educational initiative in Texas public high schools aimed at enhancing the physical education curriculum. Specifically, it adds Subsection (b-24) to Section 28.025 of the Education Code, which directs the State Board of Education to develop a lifetime recreation and outdoor pursuits course that includes a hunter education component. This course is designed to help high school students meet the physical education credit requirements as outlined in Subsection (b-1)(8) of the same section. The strategic collaboration with the Parks and Wildlife Department is significant, as it ensures that the curriculum will be relevant and well-informed, incorporating crucial knowledge and skills related to outdoor recreation and safety. The bill’s provisions allow school districts the option to offer this innovative course starting in the 2025-2026 school year, thus providing ample time for preparation and implementation. Furthermore, the bill establishes criteria for its immediate enactment based on legislative approval, offering a clear timeline for stakeholders involved in the educational system. If the needed support for immediate implementation is not achieved, the default start date will be September 1, 2025. This act represents a commitment to diversifying educational offerings and promoting outdoor skills among students.
HB 1481 Fairly, et al. – Relating to the use of personal wireless communication devices by students during instructional time. This bill aims to regulate the use of personal wireless communication devices by students in Texas public schools during instructional time. It adds a new section (Section 38.0232) to Subchapter A, Chapter 38 of the Education Code. In this section, the term “personal wireless communication device” is clearly defined, covering devices such as cellular phones, text messaging devices, laptops, and tablets, while exempting devices provided by educational institutions for instructional use. A significant requirement of the bill mandates that school boards and charter school governing bodies create and enforce policies that prohibit the use of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time. Furthermore, the policy also necessitates that classrooms set aside a secure, out-of-sight area for students to store these devices during class, promoting an environment focused on learning without distractions. The bill will take effect immediately if passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature, or it will come into effect on September 1, 2025, if such a majority is not achieved. This regulation reflects a growing concern over the impact of personal devices on educational settings.
