The Texas House has passed two significant education bills: House Bill 2 (HB 2) introduced by Representative Brad Buckley and Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) authored by Senator Brandon Creighton. HB 2 represents a $7.7 billion school finance package focused on teacher salaries, including provisions for librarians, counselors, and nurses. SB 2, a school voucher bill, was passed with the House's amendments, marking a considerable challenge for education advocates following its prior Senate approval.
In a press briefing prior to the House session on April 16, House Speaker Dustin Burrows addressed the "Texas Two-Step," reflecting the plan for passing the two bills in tandem. He emphasized HB 2's provisions to inject $3 billion into teacher pay raises and $1.5 billion for special education.
Rep. Buckley, leading the House Public Education Committee, detailed HB 2 benefits like the annual increase in the basic allotment formula, differentiated salary raises for veteran teachers, and growing teacher certification programs. He thanked vice chairman Rep. Diego Bernal for his efforts and noted the bill's evidence of bipartisan cooperation.
Rep. Bernal acknowledged Rep. Buckley's leadership, elaborating on fiscal changes aimed not simply at inflating budgets but altering allocations based on service intensity. He also mentioned increased bilingual education funding, the first increase in nearly 20 years, and an expansion of prekindergarten funding.
The bill proposes a rise in teacher salaries by $3,500 to $7,000, allowing districts flexibility in allocation. However, debates and amendments followed in the House, with some successful amendments stemming from prior approval by Buckley.
HB 2 was eventually passed with an overwhelming majority of 144-4 in the House. Following a unanimous vote the next day, the bill advanced to the Senate, where it will face a school finance measure (SB 26) which lacks comparable budgetary enhancements.
Governor Greg Abbott identified school vouchers as a priority for the 89th Legislature, reshaping legislative support for pro-voucher candidates to avoid previous setbacks. SB 2, having cleared the Senate, spent some weeks with the House Public Education Committee before advancing with pro-voucher support reforged by Abbott's influence.
Amendments to SB 2 sought to replace the tuition voucher cap based on income and place the voucher decision as a statewide vote, but they did not pass. Procedural delays and further debate carried into April 17, concluding in a close 86-63 vote favoring SB 2. Only two Republican representatives opposed the bill.
The House approved SB 2 with a final vote tally of 86-61, signaling its return to the Senate for either adoption or further negotiation through a conference committee.
