This week, both the Senate and House hear testimony on public and higher education items, lawmakers consider bills impacting the Houston business community, and hearings for priority items like CCUS and economic development are expected to be scheduled.
Community college finance bill advances
This week, community college finance reform legislation was heard in the House Committee on Higher Education and in the Senate Committee on Education. House Bill 8 by Representative Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) and Senate Bill 2539 by Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) would fundamentally change how community colleges are funded in Texas, shifting toward an outcomes-based and industry-aligned model. The bills received overwhelming support from the public and a bipartisan group of legislators. The Partnership provided testimony in support of the bill’s transformative approach to community college financing.
How we got here: The Partnership has been a strong supporter of the reforms laid out in the legislation. The bills are based on the recommendations laid out in the Texas Commission on Community College Finance’s report.
What’s next: The speed at which these bills were heard and the overwhelmingly positive feedback they received demonstrates the significant support for the proposal, and it is expected to move quickly through the legislative process.
Lawmakers hold hearings on school curriculum; teacher pay raises
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Public Education took up an important bill addressing the need for all Texas students to receive high-quality instructional materials. House Bill 1605 by Representative Brad Buckley (R-Killeen) incentivizes schools to adopt approved, grade-level curricula to improve education outcomes. The bill empowers teachers by providing access to high-quality instructional materials while maintaining flexibility in the classroom.
- Why it matters: A Texas Education Agency (TEA) study found that only 19% of students in Texas were doing grade-level work, meaning the vast majority of Texas students receive below-grade-level instructional materials. Poor curriculum inadequately prepares students, places a greater burden on teachers, and creates barriers for parents and students to close the student achievement gap.
- What’s next: The Partnership will continue to engage lawmakers and the Coalition for Education Excellence to support rigorous curriculum standards and investing in our Texas public schools. The bill was left pending in committee but is expected to be voted out next week.
Also this week, the Senate Committee on Education took up Senate Bill 9 by Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), which addresses teacher pay and retention.
What is in the bill: Senate Bill 9 makes several proposals recommended by the Teacher Vacancy Task Force, which was commissioned to explore ways to develop a thriving teacher workforce in Texas. The bill significantly increases funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment, raises base pay for teachers by at least $2,000, creates a specialized teacher-assistance unit within the Texas Education Agency, and creates a “teacher time study” to determine ways to help teachers increase efficiency by eliminating nonproductive requirements. SB 9 was left pending in committee and will be addressed at a future date.
Go deeper: The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2019 to provide a realistic pathway for top teachers to earn six-figure salaries and to help attract and retain highly effective teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff schools.
Issues to watch: Business courts and economic development
House Bill 19 by Representative Andrew Murr (R-Junction) was heard in Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence on March 22.
- The bill would create a specialized court system for business cases. The business court judicial district would be composed of all counties in the state and would be served by seven judges appointed by the governor with approval from the Senate. The bill was left pending in committee but is expected to be voted out soon.
House Bill 15 by Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) was heard in House Higher Education on March 21.
- The bill would establish the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas, dedicating $3 billion over 10 years towards improving brain health research and understanding prevention and treatment measures related to traumatic brain injuries. HB 15 received significant support from Houston’s health care and education leaders and is listed as a key item for Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont). HB 15 was left pending by the committee.
Houston in Focus: The creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas would likely result in significant research and clinical activity taking place in the Houston region and spur economic activity.
What’s next: CCUS and economic development
Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS)
Senate Natural Resources committee is expected to hear Senate Bill 2107 by Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) next week. This important bill establishes a robust framework to support CCUS deployment across the state.
Economic Development Incentives
The House Ways & Means committee is expected to consider House Bill 5 the week of April 3. House Bill 5, also known as the Texas Jobs and Security Act, would create a new economic development program to ensure Texas remains competitive in winning large capital-intensive projects.
Why it matters: In February, the Texas Senate and the House Ways & Means Committee received a letter from business leaders emphasizing the need for legislative action. To date, the letter has 232 business organizations signed on in support, including 103 chambers of commerce across the state.
During the 88th Legislative Session, the Greater Houston Partnership will provide a weekly update on newsworthy items from Austin. You can view more policy news and archives of our weekly updates here. Subscribe here to get our weekly legislative updates.