Gavel to Gavel 89th Legislative Session - February 28, 2025

Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that there is sufficient support from House members to pass a school voucher program in the Texas House. HB 3, filed by Rep. Brad Buckley (R - Salado), now has 75 Republican co-authors,  a majority of the House. Both the bill's language and the number of supporters is subject to change, as the two chambers will reconcile the differences between HB 3 and the Senate version, SB 2. HB 3 will be heard in the House Committee on Public Education March 11th.

Also on Thursday, the Texas Senate passed SB 26, granting Texas public school teachers raises ranging from $2,500 up to $10,000, based on years of teaching experience - a priority of both Gov. Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. The bill is also hailed as part of the "Teacher's Bill of Rights", as it also contains provisions providing teachers with liability insurance and free pre-K for their children. SB 26, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R - The Woodlands), is now headed to the Texas House.

Senators Lois Kolkhorst (R - Brenham), Bryan Hughes (R - Mineola), and Mayes Middleton (R - Galveston) held a "Make Texas Healthy Again" press conference on Tuesday for SB 25, SB 314, and SB 379, filed by each Senator, respectively. Again, aligning with a priority of the Lt. Governor and new federal health policy direction, SB 25 increases physical and nutritional education and enacts new food label warnings, SB 314 bans certain chemicals in school lunches, and SB 379 adds restrictions on SNAP-eligible foods.

Also, among the Lt. Governor’s priorities taken up this week were SB 6, establishing standards for payment and connection of large load electricity use customers, and SB 19, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying. Additionally, Lt. Governor Patrick's recent investigation into the Texas Lottery led to the Texas Lottery Commission announcing a ban on courier services on Monday, and on Wednesday, Gov. Abbott announced a Texas Rangers investigation and Attorney General Ken Paxton's office began a separate investigation into the Lottery Commission.

On Wednesday, recently-appointed Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock gave the biennial State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the legislature to detail judicial priorities to the legislature. Among them are increasing judicial salaries and bail reform efforts similar to those passed and in progress in the Texas Senate, and child protective services reform.

The Texas House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 4, at 2:00 PM, and the Senate until Tuesday at 11:00 AM.