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88th Texas Legislature, Called Special Sessions and resources
TSTA applauds House members who stood up for public schools with anti-voucher vote
TSTA applauds the House members, Democrats and Republicans, who stood up for their public schools today by voting to strip a costly voucher provision from House Bill 1. This should be a clear signal to Gov. Abbott to end his efforts to bully these legislators into doing something they clearly don’t want to do — spend tax dollars on unregulated private schools when their neighborhood public schools, the centers of their local communities — are underfunded. Read full release
He’s at it again.
And, we see it: Abbott has billionaire donors hounding him to open up Texas education to for-profit speculators. So, we’re back for a fourth special session so Abbott can again try to appease the men who hold his purse strings.
Here’s the thing: He’s begged, he’s pleaded and finally he’s threatened, but we have so far held the line against his irresponsible voucher scheme. It’s time to do that again. Already this week, the House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment voted out House Bill 1, the latest effort to introduce vouchers to Texas.
Please click here to fill out this form to let your Representative know that vouchers are bad for Texas students, and that no good will come from spending public tax money to enrich private school operators.
Tell your Texas legislator to reject voucher schemes!
Chaplain law
The school chaplain bill, which TSTA opposes, goes into effect Sept. 1; tell your school boards to say no
This bill (SB 763) will allow school districts to hire or accept the volunteer services of religiously affiliated chaplains to work with or replace professional school counselors in public schools. These individuals will not have to be trained in counseling or be certified as Texas educators or hold professional licenses. Read more
Texas book ban
Through the passage of HB 900, as of September 1, book vendors servicing public schools are now required to submit a list of library materials with a rating system indicating “sexually relevant” or “sexually explicit” content to the Texas Education Agency by April 1, 2024. We are closely following the lawsuit filed by booksellers and First Amendment advocates seeking to overturn the book ban. In the meantime, here is an explainer and timeline on the new law.
Mandatory school drills and active threat exercises
Senate Bill 168, authored by Senator Blanco and signed into law June 14, 2021, requires school districts to adopt trauma-informed methods and policies regarding active shooter drills and exercises. The Texas State Teachers Association supported this legislation as an excellent first step to providing the needed guardrails for mandatory school drills in a way that centers the mental health and well-being of children. Since the filing of SB 168, we have continued to advocate for policies that will reinforce student and teacher protections against trauma-inducing events such as active shooter simulations. TSTA supports the proposed amendments regarding mandatory school drills and active threat exercises. Read more
First and second special sessions
Both the House and Senate have settled up SB 2, SB 3, and HJR 2, the property tax relief bills. When the Senate passed its bills, a one time bonus payment to teachers was added and supported by the full Senate. But, it was the first thing stripped from the bill over in the House. Multiple attempts were made by House Democrats to provide for that pay raise, without success.
When the HJR was received in the Senate, another attempt was made to amend, but again without success. In the Lt. Governor’s own words, teachers will get a raise when a special session is called in the fall, and it will be permanent, not a one time payment. Well, we are no fools, and know what that means… Teachers might get a raise if he gets his voucher scheme. Teachers were yet again used as a pawn in this special session chess game.
The one thing that was true in Patrick’s statement is that there will be yet another special session and a bigger fight ahead, so let’s get ready!
The Legislature convened for its 88th biennial regular session on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. This session, TSTA’s priorities—in addition to killing private school vouchers again—are more funding for public schools, including pay raises for educators; a cost-of-living increase and better healthcare benefits for TRS retirees and a substantial increase in the state’s contribution to healthcare costs for active educators. Our Top Education Issues page has more information about what we’re fighting for this session.
The Texas Tribune also has an explainer for the longstanding and new education issues the Legislature is set to consider.
TSTA and 20 other advocate groups have joined together to make recommendations to the Legislature for addressing serious concerns about charter schools in Texas.
Committee Testimony
Follow our advocacy efforts at the Capitol! TSTA represents the interests of our members and Texas students through lobbying efforts and testimony during session.
Proposed amendment to A-F accountability scheme
Teacher Salary testimony for the Senate Finance Committee
Support school safety and mental health, oppose CSSB 11
TSTA has concerns with bill overhauling minimum salary schedule
TSTA opposes bill revoking SBOE’s ability to veto SBEC rules
TSTA opposes bill increasing the number of guns on campuses
HB 1707 — Factsheet on charter permitting bill; TSTA opposes
HPE April 18, 2023 — Opposing SSES Expansion
HPE April 18, 2023 — Opposing expansion of charter school opening timeline
HB 2729 — Opposing lowering teacher qualifications for PreK
HB 4969 — more member testimony, more voucher schemes
HB 4340 — member testimony, yet another voucher scheme
HB 11 — Concerns with bill removing SBOE authority to review SBEC rules
House Pub Ed — HB 100, Insufficient increase to the basic allotment
Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education — TFA on protecting tenure
Education groups oppose HB 2890 — SBOE voting requirements for charter application approval
TSTA Opposes HB 3 — state mandated armed security on campuses
Testimony on HB 1416 regarding STAAR tutoring requirements
TSTA supports HB 1225 — allow parents to opt their students out of online STAAR testing
Comments on Texas Education Agency budget
TSTA opposes HB 621 — TSTA believes Veterans must still be certified to become classroom teachers
Behavioral Specialist budget rider request
House Appropriations — February 27, 2023
Senate Finance — February 6, 2023
HB31 — Enrollment based funding
Agency Testimony
TSTA hosts a team of dedicated educational policy experts to represent the interests of TSTA members and students at the State Board of Education, State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Education Agency. Here we’ll post recent testimony that we’ve presented to these agencies and to House and Senate committees.
TEA: Teacher Incentive Allotment rule comments
TEA: Concerning school safety requirements
SBEC: Concerning counseling public school students
Texas Faculty Association Legislative Updates
5/11: SB 17, SB 18 heard in House committee
5/8: Testimony from Pat Heintzelman to House Higher Education Committee in regards to SB 17, the DEI bill, and SB 18, the tenure bill
4/12: Senate Bills on the Move, Accreditation on the Table, Community College Funding Flying
3/31: Strong Showing by Faculty in Senate Hearings
3/24: Critical Race Theory bill, Community College Reform Get First Tests in Committees
3/9: Bill Filing Deadline Looms
3/1: Committee Season Begins; Bill Filing Deadline Looms
2/27: The Weird Calm Before the Big Storm
2/16: Lieutenant Governor Patrick Announces Priorities
Vote Education First in every election!
Now is the time to get educated about changes to the voting process. Check out our voting resources!
Chaplain law
The school chaplain bill, which TSTA opposes, goes into effect Sept. 1; tell your school boards to say no
This bill (SB 763) will allow school districts to hire or accept the volunteer services of religiously affiliated chaplains to work with or replace professional school counselors in public schools. These individuals will not have to be trained in counseling or be certified as Texas educators or hold professional licenses. Read more
Texas book ban
Through the passage of HB 900, as of September 1, book vendors servicing public schools are now required to submit a list of library materials with a rating system indicating “sexually relevant” or “sexually explicit” content to the Texas Education Agency by April 1, 2024. We are closely following the lawsuit filed by booksellers and First Amendment advocates seeking to overturn the book ban. In the meantime, here is an explainer and timeline on the new law.
Mandatory school drills and active threat exercises
Senate Bill 168, authored by Senator Blanco and signed into law June 14, 2021, requires school districts to adopt trauma-informed methods and policies regarding active shooter drills and exercises. The Texas State Teachers Association supported this legislation as an excellent first step to providing the needed guardrails for mandatory school drills in a way that centers the mental health and well-being of children. Since the filing of SB 168, we have continued to advocate for policies that will reinforce student and teacher protections against trauma-inducing events such as active shooter simulations. TSTA supports the proposed amendments regarding mandatory school drills and active threat exercises. Read more
First and second special sessions
Both the House and Senate have settled up SB 2, SB 3, and HJR 2, the property tax relief bills. When the Senate passed its bills, a one time bonus payment to teachers was added and supported by the full Senate. But, it was the first thing stripped from the bill over in the House. Multiple attempts were made by House Democrats to provide for that pay raise, without success.
When the HJR was received in the Senate, another attempt was made to amend, but again without success. In the Lt. Governor’s own words, teachers will get a raise when a special session is called in the fall, and it will be permanent, not a one time payment. Well, we are no fools, and know what that means… Teachers might get a raise if he gets his voucher scheme. Teachers were yet again used as a pawn in this special session chess game.
The one thing that was true in Patrick’s statement is that there will be yet another special session and a bigger fight ahead, so let’s get ready!
The Legislature convened for its 88th biennial regular session on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. This session, TSTA’s priorities—in addition to killing private school vouchers again—are more funding for public schools, including pay raises for educators; a cost-of-living increase and better healthcare benefits for TRS retirees and a substantial increase in the state’s contribution to healthcare costs for active educators. Our Top Education Issues page has more information about what we’re fighting for this session.
The Texas Tribune also has an explainer for the longstanding and new education issues the Legislature is set to consider.
TSTA and 20 other advocate groups have joined together to make recommendations to the Legislature for addressing serious concerns about charter schools in Texas.
Committee Testimony
Follow our advocacy efforts at the Capitol! TSTA represents the interests of our members and Texas students through lobbying efforts and testimony during session.
Support school safety and mental health, oppose CSSB 11
TSTA has concerns with bill overhauling minimum salary schedule
TSTA opposes bill revoking SBOE’s ability to veto SBEC rules
TSTA opposes bill increasing the number of guns on campuses
HB 1707 — Factsheet on charter permitting bill; TSTA opposes
HPE April 18, 2023 — Opposing SSES Expansion
HPE April 18, 2023 — Opposing expansion of charter school opening timeline
HB 2729 — Opposing lowering teacher qualifications for PreK
HB 4969 — more member testimony, more voucher schemes
HB 4340 — member testimony, yet another voucher scheme
HB 11 — Concerns with bill removing SBOE authority to review SBEC rules
House Pub Ed — HB 100, Insufficient increase to the basic allotment
Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education — TFA on protecting tenure
Education groups oppose HB 2890 — SBOE voting requirements for charter application approval
TSTA Opposes HB 3 — state mandated armed security on campuses
Testimony on HB 1416 regarding STAAR tutoring requirements
TSTA supports HB 1225 — allow parents to opt their students out of online STAAR testing
Comments on Texas Education Agency budget
TSTA opposes HB 621 — TSTA believes Veterans must still be certified to become classroom teachers
Behavioral Specialist budget rider request
House Appropriations — February 27, 2023
Senate Finance — February 6, 2023
HB31 — Enrollment based funding
Agency Testimony
TSTA hosts a team of dedicated educational policy experts to represent the interests of TSTA members and students at the State Board of Education, State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Education Agency. Here we’ll post recent testimony that we’ve presented to these agencies and to House and Senate committees.
TEA: Teacher Incentive Allotment rule comments
TEA: Concerning school safety requirements
SBEC: Concerning counseling public school students
Texas Faculty Association Legislative Updates
5/11: SB 17, SB 18 heard in House committee
5/8: Testimony from Pat Heintzelman to House Higher Education Committee in regards to SB 17, the DEI bill, and SB 18, the tenure bill
4/12: Senate Bills on the Move, Accreditation on the Table, Community College Funding Flying
3/31: Strong Showing by Faculty in Senate Hearings
3/24: Critical Race Theory bill, Community College Reform Get First Tests in Committees
3/9: Bill Filing Deadline Looms
3/1: Committee Season Begins; Bill Filing Deadline Looms
2/27: The Weird Calm Before the Big Storm
2/16: Lieutenant Governor Patrick Announces Priorities
Vote Education First in every election!
Now is the time to get educated about changes to the voting process. Check out our voting resources!
