CAPITOL "TEA"

This week both the Senate and the House met for a short time on just two days and considered only ceremonial items such as recognitions. Neither chamber is permitted to pass any legislation for the first 60 days of the session, except on issues designated as emergency items by the Governor. The Governor has not yet designated any emergency items, but he announced his plan to deliver his State of the State address on Sunday, February 2 at 5:00pm and is expected to formally designate emergency items shortly thereafter. You can find information about how to watch the Governor’s address by reviewing the official announcement.

In the House, members’ committee preferences were due to the Speaker’s office on Tuesday, and he is expected to announce committee assignments next week.

The Senate began its first set of committee hearings this week. The Senate Finance committee held the first in a series of hearings regarding the budget that will continue through mid-February. Additionally, the Senate Education K-16 committee met to consider Senate Bill 2, the Senate’s legislation to use state funding to pay private school tuition and other educational expenses on behalf of families accepted to the program. After more than three hundred individuals testified or provided their position on the legislation, the committee advanced SB 2 by a vote of 9-2. The Senate plans to pass SB 2 out of the full chamber on Wednesday, assuming the Governor makes legislation providing state funds for private school tuition an emergency item.

BY

THE
NUMBERS

• 3,263 total bills filed
• 662 public education bills filed
• 81 bills related to property tax
• 67 bills related to school district governance
• 56 bills related to school finance

Bills are prioritized based on the expected impact to the district or the level of public attention garnered by the bill, not based on the preferences of the district. High priority bills are either a state leadership priority, related to a Plano ISD legislative priority, would require significant resources to implement a change in district policy, practice, or procedures, or would otherwise significantly impact the district.

LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS

SENATE PRIORITIES

The Lieutenant Governor announced the first set of his policy priorities for the session, promising 15 more to come. Among his top priorities are the following related to public education:

• Senate Bill 2 – Providing School Choice
• Senate Bill 10 – Placing the Ten Commandments in School
• Senate Bill 11 – Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School
• Senate Bill 12 – Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights in Public Education
• Senate Bill 13 – Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools
• Senate Bill 24 – Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism

Only Senate Bill 2 has been filed so far. View the full list of the Lieutenant Governor’s policy priorities.

KEY HOUSE LEGISLATION

Because the result of the Speaker’s race was not known in advance, the Speaker has not yet announced his priorities for the session. Additionally, without the appointment of committee chairs and members, it is difficult to identify legislation that is likely to receive a hearing and have a chance of moving through the process in the House. However, there are several bills that directly impact schools that would likely have little resistance:

• HB 725 makes salaries for teachers providing a bilingual or special language program count toward the 55% spending requirement for the bilingual allotment.
• HB 1833 amends the definition of armed security officer for schools to include honorably retired peace officers.
• HB 2116 requires public schools to display a durable poster of framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
• HB 2196 repeals the State Virtual Schools Network and replaces it with the ability for schools to provide hybrid or virtual courses, including full-time programs of hybrid or virtual courses. The bill requires school districts to allow students enrolled in full-time or hybrid courses or programs to participate in extracurricular and UIL activities. The bill provides funding for students enrolled in hybrid or virtual courses or programs in the same manner as if the student was attending in-person courses full-time. The bill prohibits school districts from requiring classroom teachers to provide virtual and in-person instruction for a course simultaneously, subject to waivers that can be issued by the Commissioner. Any teacher providing instruction in a virtual or hybrid course must receive appropriate professional development or be determined by the school district to have sufficient experience that such professional development is unnecessary. The bill also allows school districts to charge tuition and fees for out-of-state students or students who are not enrolled in the district to receive a virtual or hybrid course. The bill also allows school districts to create virtual or hybrid campuses to provide full-time programs and sets requirements for such campuses. The bill sets specific requirements for student eligibility to enroll in virtual or hybrid programs. Finally, the bill requires school districts to consider the appropriateness and feasibility of enrolling a student in a virtual or hybrid program or campus as an alternative to expulsion except in the case of certain violent offenses.

PLANO ISD ACTION

Last week, Plano ISD had the opportunity to participate in the Texas School Alliance podcast to describe the efforts of a coalition of school districts and the business community to educate lawmakers and the public on school funding and the shrinking buying power of the basic allotment. Watch the podcast here or stream the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This week, school administrators from across the state gathered in Austin for professional learning and collaboration at the Texas Association of School Administrators’ annual conference. During the conference, Plano ISD had the opportunity to present the Fund Schools First initiative and encourage other school districts to begin using the information to educate their communities and lawmakers on school finance and the impact of inflation on school district budgets. You can follow along and learn more about the Fund Schools First initiative on the website or on Facebook, Instagram and X.

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