We're in need of another post-legislative update, so please join us for a (virtual) Texas School Coalition meeting and update on Wednesday, September 15, at 2:00 p.m.
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The third sine die
For the third time this year, the Texas Legislature has adjourned sine die. That means that as of Thursday evening, the 2nd called special session was done, finished, over, complete. They shut things down a few days ahead of schedule.

Sine die is Latin for "without day," but while we don't yet know exactly which day they will meet again, we know for certain that they will meet again this year. Legislators may be saying bye for now, but it's really more like "see you again soon."

A third special session will be called for this fall in order for legislators to tackle the topic of redistricting. State leaders are already planning a wish list of items to add to that call so legislators will be working on other things in addition to maps when they reassemble in a few short weeks.
Headed to the Governor's desk
Several bills are now on their way to becoming law. Here is the run down of bills in some way associated with public education that are headed to Governor Abbott's desk:

  • SB 1 (Hughes/Murr), the highly-debated election bill.

  • SB 3 (Hughes/Huberty), the anti-Critical Race Theory (CRT) bill. SB 3 was modified via a carefully negotiated amendment from Huberty on the House floor that provided some further clarity regarding the discussion of controversial topics (rather than "current events") in class. For more information on what ended up in the final version of the bill, please see our Summary of SB 3.

  • SB 7 (Huffman/Rogers), the "13th check" for TRS retirees.

  • SB 8 (Bettencourt/Meyer) extends a tax refund (funded by the state) for the amount of the homestead exemption to homebuyers who qualify.

  • SB 9 (Huffman/Dutton) requires schools provide instruction and materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence, and requires a parental opt-in.

  • SB 12 (Bettencourt/Meyer), and accompanying constitutional amendment SJR 2 extend the same property tax rate compression provided to all other property taxpayers in 2019 to the elderly and disabled on the frozen levy (once approved by voters in May 2022).

  • SB 15 (Taylor/Keith Bell), the remote instruction bill. SB 15 allows districts rated with a C or better to offer a local remote learning program for up to 10% of the district’s enrollment (more if a waiver is granted; also special education and 504 students do not count against the 10% cap) . Students participating in such a program would count towards ADA for funding purposes (unless they participated in remote learning last year and failed the STAAR assessment or if they have excessive unexcused absences). This program and funding will expire September 1, 2023. For more details on this bill, please see our SB 15 Section-by-Section.

  • HB 5 (Bonnen/Nelson) is the appropriations bill that pays for everything above, as well as funding the legislature and increasing funding the Child Protective Services. This was the final bill to pass.

If you have questions about any of this legislation, please let us know.
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