Texas Legislature

Texas school districts' best chance of seeing a significant increase in per student funding next year now appears unlikely. The school finance package now uses that money directly for teacher pay.

House Bill 46 is expected to pass the lower chamber Tuesday. It reached the floor ahead of the House rewrite of Senate Bill 3, which would impose strict new regulations on consumable products containing THC.

During his full-throttle push to pass private school vouchers this legislative session, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott repeatedly claimed that funding for public schools "is at an all-time high." A TPR fact-check found that to be misleading, based on an analysis of state data and expert interviews.

The Texas House has just over two weeks left to give Senate bills their critical second reading. Following action in the House over the weekend, Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider has a roundup of some of the bills poised to make that critical deadline, including property taxes and voter registration. One bill — which passed earlier this session and was signed into law by Governor Abbott — will allow families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. The program is expected to start in Fall 2026, but the Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey says critics are still fighting to stop it.

State Rep. Jeff Leach accused the Texas Senate of weakening a bill aimed at banning nondisclosure agreements for child sexual abuse cases.

More than 120 organizations across Texas are urging state lawmakers to approve an investment to improve access to high-quality child care. Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro says there are around 95,000 Texas families waitlisted for a child care scholarship. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports on a bill up for consideration in the Texas House, which would allow Texas schools to hold prayer and Bible reading sessions. The Buddy Holly Center is celebrating National Train Day on Saturday with with a free day of activities for history-lovers and families alike.

Senate Bill 11 would allow trustee boards of public school districts and governing bodies of charter schools to approve voluntary school prayer meetings and Bible readings. Opponents argue it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The state health department has reported 19 more measles cases in connection with the West Texas outbreak since Friday. Our Samantha Larned says there have been 702 confirmed cases in Texas since the outbreak was identified. This week, a Texas House committee approved the senate's lead property tax cut bill. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports SB 4 now moves to the full House for a vote. Also this week, the Texas Senate heard a bill that would expand the requirements for law enforcement agencies to submit individuals suspected of gang activity into statewide databases.

With school vouchers out of the way, what priorities remain as the Legislature heads to sine die?

The sweeping legislation creates Education Savings Accounts, which allow parents to use state tax dollars toward private education costs. With $1 billion in initial funding, Texas' program is the largest day 1 plan of its kind in the nation.