During legislative sessions, TCTA's top-ranked lobby team is at the Texas Capitol every day, working on behalf of Texas teachers and other classroom professionals. Our lobbyists carefully monitor and testify on legislation that could affect TCTA members and provide daily reports on legislative action. These updates are provided below and compiled and emailed weekly via the TCTA eUpdate newsletter.
Best and worst bills we're watching
May 14, 2021
As the House reached a critical deadline this week and the last day of the session (May 31) is just over two weeks away, our list of more than 800…
Testing bills approved by House
May 13, 2021
Two more bills related to state standardized tests have passed the House and are headed to the Senate. Another, reducing state testing to only those…
HB 4545 revived, passes House on initial vote
May 13, 2021
HB 4545 by Rep. Harold Dutton refused to give up the ghost earlier this week when it was voted down 68-72 over concerns raised by school districts…
Committee chair loses battle over accelerated learning bill
May 11, 2021
HB 4545 by Rep. Harold Dutton is one of several of the committee chairman’s bills that have struggled to stay alive in recent days. Dutton has…
Literacy academy deadline bill and others stay alive as key deadline looms
May 11, 2021
The House is in the final days of debating House bills. Thursday is the last day that the House can consider most House bills (“consent” bills with…
Bill reducing STAAR testing passes House
May 8, 2021
HB 764 by Rep. Matt Krause passed the House Saturday on a vote of 136-6. The bill addresses several testing issues, including reducing required STAAR…
Charter bill voted down on House floor, but may be revived
May 6, 2021
A charter school governance bill that is opposed by most education organizations, including TCTA, was on the House floor late Wednesday. The bill…
Three education bills go down in House floor debate
May 6, 2021
Two bills dealing with non-educational aspects of charter schools failed on the House floor today, and another bill was killed by its own author…
On a day of controversial bills and unusual events, a few items related to education issues saw action
May 5, 2021
On Wednesday, the Senate took around six hours to debate a bill that will allow Texans to carry firearms without a permit. After several hours of…
Bills passing House, Senate include stronger commissioner proposal
May 4, 2021
SB 1365 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt passed the Senate on an initial vote Tuesday. The bill strengthens the authority of the commissioner of education…
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