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The 88th Legislative Session and resources
TSTA is following the special session closely, especially as it pertains to property taxation (and therefore school funding). Be on the lookout for alerts from our Government Relations team for ways to take action as the session progresses.
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.
As an educator, your voice will be critical to keeping lawmakers on the right track, doing what is best for students, educators, retirees and public schools. We will send you updates throughout the session on important legislation and opportunities to reach out to your legislators. Sign up for these updates today.
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!