SD 11 SREC: District 129 Session Newsletter

The House passed House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2, both designated as emergency items by Governor Abbott. I was proud to vote for these two important pieces of legislation. To learn more, see below.

Two previously referred bills were heard in committee on Thursday. You’ll find more information about them in the section below.

This week, the House Committees on Insurance and Transportation, as well as the Sub-Committee on Transportation Funding, convened to hear and vote on legislation.

Looking ahead, the following House committee hearings are scheduled:

House Sub-Committee on Transportation Funding: Monday at 10:00 AM
House Committee on Insurance: Wednesday at 8:00 AM
House Committee on Transportation: Thursday at 8:00 AM

Please click HERE to view committee notices and access links to watch the meetings online.

For more information about the legislative session, please continue reading or feel free to contact my staff with any questions.

This weekend, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I wish you and your family a happy Easter and a restful weekend.

It is an honor to serve you in the Texas House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 2

The Texas Comptroller will prioritize ESA funding for students with disabilities and those from low-income households. While any student enrolled or eligible to enroll in a public school may apply, applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful residents.

The Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2 complements House Bill 2 to form the “Texas Two Step”—an all-of-the-above approach to expanding education options for Texas families.

House Bill 2

House Bill Two includes an ongoing, automatic increase to the basic allotment every biennium, tying it to the growth of property values, meaning:

More predictable, stable public education funding
All districts will benefit more equally, reducing reliance on recapture from property-wealthy districts
Reduced pressure to raise local taxes to fund basic education needs.
Automatic teacher pay increases, as 40% of new BA funding must go to salaries
CSHB 2 includes narrowed language requiring these increases to be prioritized first for teachers with 10+ years, then 5+ years experience.

House Bill 2 includes funding to expand teacher certifications, ensuring better-prepared teachers in the classroom and reducing administrative burdens related to uncertified teachers.

Overall, HB 2 delivers a $7.7 billion increase in public education funding and is the largest component of the House’s $9 billion package of critical education proposals.

Families deserve options and schools deserve resources. Together, these bills provide both resources for schools and choices for families, aiming to improve public education and student outcomes.

Updates on my Bills:

Thursday I laid out two bills for consideration in the House Committee on Insurance.

First, I laid out House Bill 4012 before the House Committee on Insurance. HB 4012 relates to health care and insurance fraud, creating a criminal offense, and authorizing a civil penalty.

Then, I presented House Bill 4877 also before the House Committee on Insurance. HB 4877 relating to the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association.

How to Track Legislation

Ever wonder how the laws that impact your everyday life originate? While this graphic provides you with a simplified overview, You can walk through the entire legislative process by reading this blog post from the Texas House Republican Caucus on how a bill becomes a law in Texas. From a bill being introduced to it becoming law or vetoed, there are many steps ahead for the many bills that have been filed.