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- After the Senate Passed Their Budget, It’s Now the House’s turn.
- The House Gets Moving with its First Floor Calendar this Week.
- Public School Funding and ESA bills will be Out of House Committee on Tuesday
- NTC’s Governance Affairs Committee is Meeting This Week - Register HERE.
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The Texas Senate unanimously passed SB 1, the state budget, last Tuesday in a discussion that lasted just less than two hours. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released a statement commending senators for their work on the budget. The bill was received and referred in the House the following day. House Appropriations is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon to substitute and vote out their version of the budget along with HB 500, the supplemental appropriations bill. Both bills are expected to be on the House Floor as soon as April 10th.
Lieutenant Governor Patrick issued an update on the status of his legislative priorities noting that more than half have already passed the Senate. Many of the bills have been received in the House, but not yet referred to committee while several have been referred already including SB 19, restriction of the use of public funds for lobbying activities by political subdivisions. SB 19 was referred to the House State Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Ken King, last Tuesday. The Senate also acted on SB 14, referred to as Texas DOGE for its establishment of a Regulatory Efficiency Division within the Governor’s Office. Patrick issued a statement in support of the bill that was inspired by the federal government’s DOGE. Late last week, Patrick also indicated he will seek to force a special session if his legislative priorities related to banning THC and bail reform do not pass during the regular session. As a reminder, Governor Abbott has the sole authority to convene the legislature for a special session.
The House Committee on Public Education has scheduled a meeting Tuesday morning to take up pending business related to public school funding and an education savings account (ESA) program. The House plans to advance HB 2, public education finance and SB 2 the ESA program. Speculation around the Capitol suggests Chairman Buckley will introduce a committee substitute for HB 2 with a larger increase in the basic allotment than in the original bill. While it is not expected to be near the $1340 increase that the NTC and other education advocates have requested, it will be greater than the currently proposed $220. The committee is expected to substitute HB 3, its version of an ESA program, in place of the Senate version in SB 2. Last week Governor Abbott hosted Arizona Governor, and school choice proponent, Doug Ducey for a joint press conference that also included Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows. School choice continues to be the top legislative priority for Governor Abbott in 2025.
State Comptroller Glenn Hegar was unanimously selected last Friday to succeed Chancellor John Sharp as the next leader of the Texas A&M University System following a mandatory 21-day waiting period after he was named the sole finalist for the position March 7th. Chancellor Sharp will serve through June 30th. Governor Abbott will appoint a comptroller following the vacancy created by Comptroller Hegar stepping down. The Comptroller of Public Accounts position will be on the ballot in 2026 for a full four-year term. Several candidates have already announced for this race including Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and Former State Senator Don Huffines.
House Calendars met last Thursday for the first time this session and set a House Calendar for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The House had its first verification vote of the session Friday morning. Representative Brian Harrison requested verification to confirm the House had a quorum present in order to conduct its business. The verification revealed the House lacked a quorum and adjourned to reconvene this past Saturday at 10am. The House agenda Friday included a Congratulatory and Memorial Calendar as well as the biennial tradition of recognizing former House members as part of Speaker’s Reunion Day. Harrison raised the same objection Saturday morning, but Speaker Burrows immediately adjourned the House until Monday afternoon.
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As the end of the session approaches, ensure you are staying up to date with all the Legislature's internal deadlines. Bookmark this helpful End-of-Session Deadline calendar to ensure your priorities get across the finish line.
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