Deadlines Loom for 82nd Legislature
As legislative deadlines loom, school finance bills have stalled out, setting the stage for budget negotiations between the House and Senate. Once lawmakers agree to an overall budget number for public education, they may proceed with dispersing cuts and allocating funds for public education.
A Conference Committee on the budget has been named and is comprised of members from both chambers. In order to keep on schedule, school finance would need to be addressed by the end of next week, most likely in the House Appropriations Committee with a final bill heading to both chambers prior to the close of the session.
Conference Committee on the Budget
- Rep. Pitts (R-Waxahachie)
- Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Lake Dallas)
- Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton)
- Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston)
- Rep. John Zerwas (R-Simonton)
- Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan)
- Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)
- Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen)
- Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)
- Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands)
As the hours pass, it is not likely that CSHB 2485 will make a swift appearance in the House by its deadline of midnight tonight to pass House bills. Any House bill or portion thereof not heard by this deadline either dies or may be amended onto another piece of legislation still moving through the process.
Representatives Jim Keffer, Phil King and Rick Hardcastle have continued to express support for full funding for CTE consistent with current law. They are prepared to put forward an amendment to this effect should drafts for school finance fall short of the funds necessary to continue supporting CTE programs that best serve students.
The following bills related to CTE are continuing to move through the legislative process.
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