Weekly Summary The House passed Rep. Aycock’s HB 5 after 8 hours of debate on Tuesday, drastically changing the accountability system, graduation requirements, and high school end-of-course STAAR exams. Chairman Aycock says, “This bill gives all Texas students the opportunities they need to succeed ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary As SB 1 was voted out of the Senate, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst remarked: "The state budget passed today reflects our commitment to balancing a fiscally conservative budget without raising taxes and giving your priorities the resources they need to continue building a better ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary As SB 1 was voted out of the Senate, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst remarked: "The state budget passed today reflects our commitment to balancing a fiscally conservative budget without raising taxes and giving your priorities the resources they need to continue building a better ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary Bill filing ended last week as legislators rushed to submit 2563 bills and proposed constitutional amendments, bringing the grand total up to 5924 pieces of legislation. SB 1, the Senate’s version of the general appropriations bill, was voted out of Senate Finance unanimously and ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary Bill filing ended last week as legislators rushed to submit 2563 bills and proposed constitutional amendments, bringing the grand total up to 5924 pieces of legislation. Gov. Perry continues his mission to bring jobs from California to Texas. Hoping that the Lone Star State will ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary March 8th is the last day to file a bill without suspending the rules. On Thursday, 752 bills and resolutions were filed and we expect at least that many to be filed on Friday! SB 758, by Senator Williams (R-The Woodlands), was approved by the Senate on Tuesday and pays a $1.75 ... Keep Reading

  Weekly Summary March 8th was the last day to file a bill without suspending the rules. On Thursday, 752 bills and resolutions were filed and we expect at least that many to be filed on Friday!Three important budget bills passed the Senate this week. HB 10 allocates $6.6 billion in current ... Keep Reading

  Weekly Summary Federal budget cuts, called sequestration, will go into effect unless Congress and the Obama administration reach a fiscal compromise. The state will see nearly $70 million in education cuts and up to $500 million over the next few years. Read the full White House report on how ... Keep Reading

  Weekly Summary Federal budget cuts, called sequestration, will go into effect unless Congress and the Obama administration reach a fiscal compromise. The state will see nearly $70 million in education cuts and up to $500 million over the next few years if Congress does not act. Hundreds of ... Keep Reading

Weekly Summary Sen. Dan Patrick is championing, in addition to school choice (vouchers), an expansion of charter schools. SB 2 eliminates the cap on charter schools in the state—currently at 215—and mandates that districts lease empty facilities to charter programs that request it. Debate will ... Keep Reading