2025 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Highlights

$8.5 Billion

in new
school funding

100+

education bills
passed

$51 Billion

included in state budget for
property tax relief passed
since 2019

89th Legislative Session Bill Recaps

House Bill 2

House Bill 2 included $8.5 billion in new public education funding over the next biennium. It directs most of the funding toward:

Targeted teacher pay raises based on district size and teacher experience
New funding for support staff
Investments in special education
Expanded pre-K partnerships
A new allotment for operational costs, including utilities and property insurance

The funding aims to ease financial pressures on school districts.

Senate Bill 2

Senate Bill 2 was funded at $1 billion for the 2026-27 biennium. The new school voucher program (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is expected to see cost increases in future years. It will allow eligible students to use public funds for:

Private school tuition
Homeschool expenses
New funding for support staff
Other approved education-related services

House Bill 8

House Bill 8 replaces the STAAR test with a new standardized testing system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The new Student Success Tool requires students to take tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year in core subjects (reading, math, science and social studies), instead of one big test at the end of the year.

Despite the new testing format, HB 8 does not fundamentally alter how Texas grades its schools and districts. They will still receive an annual A-F rating. For about 80% of schools, particularly elementary and middle schools, these ratings will continue to be based almost entirely on student performance on standardized tests. The shift away from a system heavily reliant on standardized test scores will require further action in future legislative sessions.

What else do I need to know about the 89th Legislative Session?

The Texas Legislature knows how to pass bold, complex, and costly measures when it’s a priority

Texas ranks 46th in the nation in per-pupil funding, and $8.5 billion is not even half of the $19.6 billion schools need simply to maintain their purchasing power from 2019.

The state legislature’s down payment of $8.5 billion will help, but it did not close the funding gap and it will not solve the budget woes of so many Texas school districts.

Property Tax Relief Since 2019

Key Education Bills Passed

HB 2 – School Funding and Teacher Pay
HB 6 – School Discipline Reform
HB 8 – STAAR Replacement and A-F Ratings
HB 27 – Personal Financial Literacy Course for High School Graduation
HB 1481 – Cell Phone Ban Policy
SB 2 – Vouchers (Education Savings Accounts)

SB 4 – Property Tax Relief
SB 10 – Ten Commandments in Classrooms
SB 11 – Prayer in Schools Policy
SB 12 – Parental Rights Expansion
SB 13 – Library Materials

SB 25 – Physical Education, Recess, and Nutrition Requirements
SB 569 – Virtual and Hybrid Schools
SB 965 – Protect Religious Speech by School Employees

What’s Next

Thousands of Texans spoke up this past legislative session about what they value and want for public education. When lawmakers worked together in response to those voices, we found positive moments in our Capitol.

Effective public education advocacy is a year-round effort.

Now is the time to hold our legislators accountable for the newest decisions made at the Capitol during the 89th Legislative Session.

We are here to help you:

Learn how the recent actions taken at the Capitol can affect your community
Connect with your legislators
Host listening circles in your community

Join our Across the Lawn emails and texts to learn how some legislation will affect Texas families, schools, and communities.

Connect with your Regional Advocacy Director to find out more about local opportunities and how to join advocacy efforts in your community.

Texas should lead the nation in education opportunities. Join us to help ensure our students and our communities receive the education funding they deserve.