Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Senate Passes State Budget The Texas Senate passed their version of a $336 billion spending plan for the next two years that would boost teacher pay, establish a school voucher program, and cut property taxes,...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Bill Filing Deadline Last Friday – the 60th day of the session -- was the last day members of the House and Senate could file bills for the session.  Anything filed now would take a 4/5ths approval from each...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Bill Filing Deadline Today is the 60th day of the regular session.  80 more to go. Today is the last day that members can file legislation in the House and Senate.  As of now, there have been over 5,400 House...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: House Committee Hears Bill to Increase Public Education Funding House Bill 2 -- a proposed $8 billion education funding package – was heard in the House Public Education committee this week.  The bill aims to...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: House Voucher Support The Texas Senate has passed a voucher – or school choice bill – in every regular and special session since 2021.  This session is no different. In early February, the Senate swiftly passed...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Abbott’s Mixed Messages on Vouchers In what will likely be the most contentious and emotional fight of the 2025 session, the issue of school choice – or vouchers – has led to an intense debate on what – if any...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: House Committees Appointed Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows finally released committee assignments for the session.  As expected, his early supporters received the key chairmanships, including Rep. Todd...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: State of the State Address Gov. Abbott delivered the State of the State address last Sunday evening.  Abbott used the opportunity to lay out his priorities for the legislative session, including emergency items...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Senate Committee Approves Vouchers On Tuesday, the Texas Senate Education Committee voted 9-2 along party lines to advance the private school voucher legislation (SB 2) to the full Senate, with the committee’s...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Texas House Adopts Rules for Session The Texas House adopted their rules under which they will operate for the regular session.  Members voted yesterday to prohibit Democrats from chairing committees which ends...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Texas House Selects Rep. Dustin Burrows to Lead Chamber On Tuesday, the opening day of the legislative session, House members elected Lubbock Rep. Dustin Burrows to be the Speaker of the Texas House.  Burrows...

Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week: Texas House Speaker Race Prior to the New Year, state Rep. Gary Gates – Republican from Fort Bend County – sent a letter to all Republican colleagues that criticized his fellow members for the intraparty...