88th Texas Legislature

House Bill 1 includes funding for school safety and salary raises for teachers. But the measure’s most controversial provision, one creating a school voucher-like program, was stripped from the bill on Friday afternoon.

The bill has brought together an unlikely coalition of Republicans and Democrats and may keep lawmakers in Austin even longer.

Senate Bill 4 creates a state crime for unauthorized entry into Texas from a foreign country. Opponents say it conflicts with federal immigration law.

Abbott’s agenda for the new special session includes — once again — school vouchers, school safety, and border-related bills.

Wednesday night’s development comes after months of fierce infighting between GOP lawmakers — and with less than a week left in the current special session. Lawmakers only have until Tuesday, Nov. 7 to send legislation to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

The panel voted to advance the proposal after it removed two key elements contained in the original language. But opponents argue the bill is still unconstitutional and promotes racial profiling.

The legislation, which Republican lawmakers have been trying to pass since 2021, offers no exceptions for doctors’ offices, clinics or other health facilities.

The action in the upper chamber followed a committee hearing where the developer of a neighborhood called Colony Ridge, outside Houston, had to push back yet again against claims his property was attracting dangerous immigrants and running rampant with crime.

Abbott's announcement Tuesday suggests a renewed effort to divert public funds to private schools. Phelan’s office stopped short of calling it an agreement, saying the Republican speaker “looks forward to having robust discussions on school funding, teacher pay, and other critical issues with his House colleagues."

The bill was one of three measures designed to expand state-based immigration enforcement that the Texas House is scheduled to debate Wednesday.

The bill now goes back to the Texas Senate since the version passed by the House makes some minor changes to the version passed by the upper chamber two weeks ago.

A handful of plumbers and construction workers are training as substitutes so they can relieve public school teachers when they head to the state Capitol to protest a bill that would create education savings accounts.