Author: Hannah Norton

House Bill 1 would increase funding for public schools, set an end date for the current public school accountability system and subsidize private school tuition with taxpayer dollars.

House Bill 4 would allow state and local law enforcement to jail undocumented immigrants who refuse to return to their country of origin.

The bill would provide raises for Texas teachers, increase the base amount of money schools get per student and boost school safety funding. Public school finance is not currently on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the special legislative session.

The controversial proposal is a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott. It likely faces heavy opposition in the Texas House.

A Texas Senate committee heard hours of testimony about Senate Bill 1, which could give eligible families $8,000 per student to pay for private school.

Texas lawmakers discussed legislation to send more money to public schools on Oct. 9 amid rising animosity within the Texas Republican Party.

Schools must send students caught vaping to an alternative education program under House Bill 114, which became law Sept. 1.

Lawmakers are expected to return to the capitol at 1 p.m. Oct. 9, Abbott said. He also asked them to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates from private employers.

Because several witnesses planned to plead the Fifth Amendment, the documents were not presented during the Senate impeachment trial.

The special session is expected to focus on public school funding and school choice. Abbott has indicated he may also direct lawmakers to discuss border security legislation.