Lt. Gov. Patrick announces additional priority bills

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a second crop of priority bills for the 89th Legislature, signaling his support for the legislation going forward. With the Senate firmly under his control, his priority bills tend to make their way quickly through the chamber, leaving the House to determine their fate. 

Ten of his priority bills have already passed the Senate and await a hearing in the House, including these three education bills:

• SB 2: School vouchers
• SB 4: Increased homestead exemption
• SB 26: Increased teacher pay

Of those that Patrick has announced that have yet to pass, SB 27, could have the biggest impact on educators. Dubbed "The Teacher Bill of Rights," it contains a number of provisions that could be beneficial to teachers, but the Senate K-16 Education Committee has yet to schedule a hearing on SB 27. 

TCTA has been involved in shaping the bill and will keep you up to date on its journey through the chamber once it is on the schedule.