May 2019
May 2019
86th Legislative Session Highlights from ATPE
Date Posted: 5/31/2019
As the 86th Texas Legislature began its regular session in January 2019, it was dubbed the "session of the teacher" and was marked by abounding promises to fix school finance and provide pay raises to the most important in-school factor contributing to student success: our teachers.
Session Recap: The big school safety bill
Date Posted: 5/29/2019
One of the largest education-related bills the 86th Texas Legislature passed was Senate Bill (SB) 11 by Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), the omnibus school safety bill passed in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, in May 2018.
Here's how TRS legislation ended up in the 86th legislative session
Date Posted: 5/28/2019
As the 86th legislative session came to a close yesterday, there were some significant changes made to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) that warrant a closer look.
Changes to student testing are coming in light of legislation passed
Date Posted: 5/28/2019
The 86th Texas Legislature passed a number of measures that will have an impact on standardized testing of students in our public schools.
86th Texas Legislature passes school finance bill
Date Posted: 5/26/2019
Tonight, the Texas House and Senate both gave final approval to compromise legislation that will spend more than $11 billion over the next two years on public education and providing property tax relief to Texans.
More detail on the legislative deal to address school finance, property taxes, and TRS
Date Posted: 5/24/2019
As the ATPE lobby team reported here on our blog yesterday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, collectively known as the "Big Three" heads of government, held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce that negotiators had finalized a grand bargain to address property tax relief, school finance reform, and funding for the Teacher Retirement System (TRS).
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: May 24, 2019
Date Posted: 5/24/2019
We're down to the final stretch of the 86th legislative session, and there's been major breaking news about education bills in the last 24 hours. Here's a look at this week's headlines from the ATPE Governmental Relations team.
From The Texas Tribune: This session's biggest mental health bill got killed on a technicality — then resurrected
Date Posted: 5/23/2019
A major mental health bill prioritized by the state's top leaders as a way to help prevent school shootings was partially revived late Tuesday night hours after it appeared to have been abruptly killed on a technicality during a dramatic night in the Texas House.
With the legislative session clock ticking, major education bills remain pending
Date Posted: 5/23/2019
Four days remain in the regular session of the 86th Texas Legislature, and significant deadlines for bills attach to each day that passes.
State leaders announce deal on school finance, property tax relief, and TRS legislation
Date Posted: 5/23/2019
At a press conference held this afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker of the House Rep. Dennis Bonnen announced that a deal has been reached on legislation to address school finance, property tax relief, and the Teacher Retirement System (TRS).
From The Texas Tribune: Welcome to Hell Week for the Texas Legislature
Date Posted: 5/20/2019
Here at the beginning of a week in which most bills in the Texas Legislature will die, the big priorities set out at the beginning, in January, are still alive: school finance, property tax reform, school safety and responses to Hurricane Harvey.
Senate Education Committee winds up last hearing
Date Posted: 5/18/2019
The Senate Education Committee met late Friday afternoon to consider another round of bills sent over from the House.
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: May 17, 2019
Date Posted: 5/17/2019
With major session deadlines hitting this weekend, here's a look at this week's legislative developments, courtesy of the ATPE Governmental Relations team.
Senate Education Committee wraps up regular hearings
Date Posted: 5/16/2019
The Senate Education Committee met Thursday, May 16, to hold what is expected to be its last meeting to consider new legislation.
House Public Education Committee hears bills on school turnaround, virtual schools, cybersecurity
Date Posted: 5/14/2019
On Tuesday, May 14, 2019, the House Public Education Committee heard 10 bills on a variety of topics, including accelerated campus excellence (ACE) turnaround programs and virtual school accountability.
Senate Education Committee continues work on House bills
Date Posted: 5/14/2019
The Senate Education Committee met Tuesday, May 14, 2019, to continue working on bills that have already been passed by the Texas House.
Senate Education Committee continues hearing House bills
Date Posted: 5/10/2019
The Senate Education Committee met Thursday morning, May 9, to hear another docket full of bills that have already passed the House.
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: May 10, 2019
Date Posted: 5/10/2019
It was another busy week at the Texas State Capitol for ATPE's Governmental Relations team. Here's a look at the latest headlines.
House Public Education Committee hears Senate bills on virtual schools, school safety
Date Posted: 5/07/2019
On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, the House Public Education Committee heard seven Senate bills on a variety of topics.
Senate Education Committee turns focus to House mental health bills
Date Posted: 5/07/2019
The Senate Education Committee returned to work Tuesday after the full Senate approved House Bill (HB) 3, the school finance bill, following a full day of debate on Monday, May 6, 2019.
From The Texas Tribune: Texas Senate approves school finance reform bill, but opts not to fund it with a sales tax hike
Date Posted: 5/07/2019
The Texas Senate on Monday approved a bill to massively overhaul public school finance, but did so while backing away from a proposal to use an increased sales tax to lower school district property taxes.
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: May 3, 2019
Date Posted: 5/03/2019
We're wrapping up another week of legislative action at the Texas State Capitol. Here's the latest news from your ATPE Governmental Relations staff.
Senate Education Committee advances school finance bill
Date Posted: 5/01/2019
The Senate Education Committee met Wednesday morning inside the Senate chamber to advance a new version of the school finance bill, House Bill (HB) 3.