The House unveiled HB 2, the House version of the school finance bill, HB 3, the House version of the school voucher bill, and HB 4, an accountability reform bill. 

HB 2

House Bill 2 would increase the basic allotment from $6,160 per student to $6,380 per student, an increase of just $220. Our schools need closer to a $1,350 increase per student just to keep up with inflation and get us back to 2019 funding levels. 

• H2’s allotment raise would keep Texas in the lowest 10 states for per pupil funding

• Texas had a $24 billion surplus last year - the funds are there to support public education. 

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-public-school-funding/

 

HB 3: 

House Bill 3 is the largest and most expensive private school voucher bill ever proposed in the Texas House. HB 3 will divert taxpayer dollars out of our public schools and into private schools.

 

Eligibility: Universal eligibility for every school-aged child and PreK-eligible child. HB 3 does not include an income cap, wealthy families who currently send their children to private school are eligible for voucher money. 

 

Voucher Amount: The voucher can be used for private school expenses OR high-quality PreK, though the PreK eligibility remains unclear in the bill text. 

• All students: Eligible to receive 85% of the estimated statewide average state and local funding per student in ADA — $10,198 in 2026 and nearly $10,500 in 2027.

• Homeschoolers: Eligible to receive $2,000.

• Special Education Students: Eligible to receive their full public school entitlement amount, up to $30,000.

 

Prioritization: HB 3 does not prioritize students who are currently in public schools. Students who are already in private schools are equally eligible for this money. The bill includes a series of prioritization criteria, but if low-income students and students with disabilities (categories 1-3 below) do not apply for a voucher — or apply and are not granted admission into a private school — most of the voucher seats will go to wealthier families with kids already in private schools (category 4).

1. Students with a disability AND who are members of a household at or below 500% of the federal poverty line (FPL)

2. Students who are part of a household below 200% of the FPL

3. Students who are part of a household above 200% and below 500% of the FPL

4. Students who are part of a household at or above 500% of the FPL

5. If a child ceases to use a voucher, then they are moved to the bottom of the waitlist if they wish to use a voucher again

 

For reference, currently, 500% of the FPL for a single parent with one child is $105,750 and 500% of the federal poverty line for a family of 6 is $215,750.

 

Accountability: Participating students would be required to take either the state-required assessment or a nationally norm-referenced exam

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/

 

• Private schools can choose who to accept - they are able to deny admittance to students based on any criteria - including school performance, disability, or behavior. Public schools must accept all students. 

• Private schools are not required to follow federal and state laws ensuring students with disabilities receive proper learning accommodations. Public schools must comply with these laws, and are often underfunded to do so. 

• HB3 has a provision that private school parents can request a public school conduct an evaluation of their child to determine the child’s eligibility for special education services. The evaluation must be done within 45 days of the request. Public school districts already struggle with caseloads for special service evaluations for their students, and would likely be overburdened by the addition of private school students.

 

HB 4:

House Bill 4 would instruct the Texas Education Agency to modify the STAAR test, reducing its length and prioritizing post-secondary preparation.

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-staar-standardized-test/

 

HB 6:

The bill amends the Texas Education Code to revise disciplinary procedures for students in public schools, allowing principals to impose both in-school and out-of-school suspensions, with out-of-school suspensions capped at three school days. 

It establishes that students below grade three can only be suspended out-of-school for serious conduct, such as threats to safety or significant disruptions, and prohibits out-of-school suspensions for homeless students unless they engage in specific serious conduct. 

The bill also introduces virtual disciplinary alternative education programs for expelled students, ensuring they receive remote instruction, and clarifies the conditions under which students can be expelled for serious offenses.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, 37.1151, permitting school districts to seek civil action for the temporary removal of students with disabilities if a threat assessment indicates potential harm. The district must show that reasonable efforts were made to maintain the student's current educational setting. If the court finds sufficient evidence, it can order removal for up to 60 instructional days, with the possibility of extension. 

The bill mandates that students with disabilities in alternative settings continue to receive all required educational services and repeals certain existing sections of the Education Code, with an effective date set for the 2025-2026 school year, or immediately if passed by a two-thirds majority.

HB 100:

Relating to the purchase, adoption, and use of instructional materials by public schools.

 

HB 123:

Measures to support kindergarten readiness and early literacy and numeracy skills.