In a major legislative move, the Texas House of Representatives on April 16 gave initial approval to House Bill 2 (HB 2)—a sweeping school finance bill that would inject $7.7 billion into the state’s public education system. The proposal passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 144-4 vote, with only four Republicans opposing the measure. The bill must still pass a final House vote before moving to the Senate.
Unprecedented Investment in Public Education
HB 2, authored by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), marks what he called “more money for Texas public education than any other piece of legislation in the history of the state.” The bill seeks to increase the basic allotment—the base amount of money the state provides per student—from $6,160 to $6,555. It also includes a provision to automatically raise the basic allotment every two years, based on property value growth, to help schools keep up with rising costs.
“This is a bipartisan effort to close the gap that inflation has created in our school districts,” Buckley said on the House floor.
Focus on Teacher Pay and Certification
One of HB 2’s primary aims is improving compensation for teachers and other school staff. Current Texas law requires that at least 30% of any increase to the basic allotment be allocated toward salaries for nonadministrative personnel. HB 2 would raise that requirement to 40%, prioritizing experienced educators.
Buckley explained that under the bill, teacher raises could range from $3,500 to $7,000, with exact amounts varying by district. The proposal emphasizes raising pay for teachers with five or more years of classroom experience, addressing what Buckley described as a long-standing imbalance: “We have changed the starting salary, but we’ve not invested in our more experienced teachers.”
The bill would also expand funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that helps high-performing teachers work toward six-figure salaries.
In addition, HB 2 targets Texas’s growing reliance on uncertified teachers. During a February hearing, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath reported that over 17,000 of the 49,400 teachers hired in the 2023-24 school year were uncertified.
To address this, the bill includes:
- A $1,000 incentive for every uncertified teacher who becomes certified by the end of the 2025-26 school year.
- $8,000 annually for “grow your own” educator programs—designed to support high school students or school employees in earning the 60 college credit hours needed to become certified teachers.
- A ban on hiring uncertified teachers to teach core subjects such as math, English, social studies, and science.
Expanded Support for Special Education and Early Learners
HB 2 includes $1.5 billion in new funding for special education, shifting the funding model to one that allocates resources based on students’ individual needs rather than where they receive services. Advocates say this approach, recommended by the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding, better reflects the unique requirements of students with disabilities.
The bill also increases funding for prekindergarten programs and for emergent bilingual students, helping districts better serve early learners and non-native English speakers.
Mixed Reactions and Remaining Concerns
While the bill has been praised as a significant step forward, some Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that it doesn’t go far enough to meet schools’ actual needs. Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) said that while he supports the bill, he worries the public may overestimate its impact.
“Raise Your Hand Texas,” an education advocacy group, estimates that the basic allotment would need to reach at least $7,500 to keep pace with inflation and adequately support school operations.
“I would vote for a $1 increase for our public schools, and so I do want to acknowledge that this is a good step forward,” Talarico said. “But I don’t want to over-promise the people of Texas what this bill would do.”
What’s Next?
The House must pass HB 2 in a final vote before it moves to the Texas Senate, which has also advanced several school funding proposals this session. One competing measure, Senate Bill 26, would increase salaries for veteran teachers but remove the requirement that a portion of increased funding be used for pay raises—an approach at odds with the House version.
Meanwhile, House lawmakers also began debate on Senate Bill 2, a controversial proposal that would use public funds to help families pay for private education. The voucher-style bill is a top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott but has faced significant resistance from House Democrats and some public school advocates.
With both HB 2 and SB 2 now moving through the legislative process, the future of public education funding—and how it interacts with school choice—remains a central issue in Texas politics this session.
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