Funding Bill Goes to Governor
Yesterday the Texas House voted 122 to 13 to agree to the Senate’s amendments to HB 2, the school funding bill, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott. As previously reported, the Legislative Budget Board runs were released Wednesday:
We expect the text of the final bill to be available today.
Status of Bills in Conference Committee
HB 4 – Accountability and Assessment
Yesterday, the House refused to concur with Senate amendments to HB 4, the legislation that would make important changes to our assessment/accountability system, replacing the STAAR with three norm-referenced tests administered throughout the year and adding optional local indicators. As noted previously, the new content of HB 4 is very different from the engrossed version of the bill as it left the House.
The House appointed the following members to a conference committee on HB 4: House Public Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley; House Public Education Committee Vice Chair Diego Bernal; House Public Education Committee Member Trent Ashby; Rep. Brooks Landgraf; and Rep. Will Metcalf. The Senate conferees are: Senate Committee on Education K-16 Chair Brandon Creighton; Senate Committee on Education K-16 Vice Chair Donna Campbell; Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Sen. Kelly Hancock; and Sen. César Blanco.
SB 12 – Parental Rights
The Senate refused to concur in House amendments and appointed the following Senate conferees: Senate Committee on Education K-16 Chair Brandon Creighton; Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Sen. César Blanco, Sen. Angela Paxton, and Sen. Tan Parker. The House conferees are: House Public Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley; Texas House Public Education Committee Member Rep. Jeff Leach; Rep. Lacey Hull; and Rep. Will Metcalf.
SB 13 – Library Materials
The Senate refused to concur in House amendments and called for a conference committee, appointing Senate conferees. The House has not announced conferees.
SB 260 – School Safety Allotment
The conference committee report has been adopted by the House but still needs approval from the Senate.
SB 568 – Special Education Funding
On May 29, the Senate refused to concur in House amendments and called for a conference committee, appointing Senate conferees. The House has not announced conferees.
HB 3372 – Prohibiting School Administrators from Providing Personal Services
On May 29, the House refused to concur in Senate amendments and requested the appointment of a conference committee. House conferees appointed: Rep. Will Metcalf; Rep. Keith Bell; Rep. Leo Wilson; and Rep. Cody Vasut. Senate conferees appointed: Sen. Mayes Middleton; Sen. Paul Bettencourt; Sen. Brandon Creighton; Sen. Ken King; Sen. Jose Menéndez.
The deadline to distribute conference committee reports on all bills except the budget bill is Saturday, May 31.
State Budget Bill Expected on Senate Floor
As reported yesterday, the state’s budget bill, SB 1, has been in conference committee for several weeks, and the conference committee report has been distributed to lawmakers. See a Legislative Budget Board summary. This is the only bill the Legislature is constitutionally required to pass each session. It is expected to be heard on the Senate floor soon.
Sine die, the last day of the 2025 legislative session, is Monday, June 2.
