Gov. Greg Abbott signs House Bill 2, officials say it delivers record teacher pay and $8.5 billion boost

SALADO, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 at Salado Middle School on a bill he and local officials called a historic investment in Texas public education, saying it includes a record increase in state funding and permanent changes to teacher compensation.

"Texas should be number 1 in educating our children," Gov. Greg Abbott said, outlining the administration's goal and saying the legislation "takes substantial steps" toward that aim by providing, he said, a record $8,500,000,000 boost to education funding. Abbott said the package includes a permanent teacher compensation structure and programs to expand teacher preparation.

School and state officials framed the bill as a mix of higher pay and targeted program funding. "This bill prioritizes teacher compensation and preparation as well as research based strategies," said Shameka Gray, a kindergarten teacher at Kenny Powell Elementary School in Temple ISD and a regional teacher‑of‑the‑year speaker at the signing. Gray said HB2 includes $187,000,000 for quality teacher preparation programs, introduces a permanent retention allotment for teachers with three or more years' experience and expands teacher incentive allotments.

Abbott said the bill also allocates $1,300,000,000 specifically to ensure pay increases reach classroom teachers rather than administrative budgets. He added that the state previously relied on federal COVID relief for portions of education funding in 2021–23 and that HB2 fills the gap now that that funding has ended.

Officials emphasized other provisions beyond pay, including increased funding for reading and math instruction, expanded special education resources and investment in career and technical pathways in high‑demand fields such as nursing, welding and skilled trades—priorities officials said are aimed at improving outcomes and workforce readiness, particularly in rural districts.

Novani, superintendent of Salado ISD, described the signing as a local and state collaboration and thanked the bill's legislative sponsors and negotiators. Other speakers at the event praised the bill's permanence for teacher compensation and described it as a generational change for public schools.

The signing event did not include a specified effective date in remarks, and no formal vote tally was announced at the ceremony. Officials present said the legislation will touch roughly 5,500,000 students enrolled in Texas public schools.

Abbott closed the event with thanks to educators and wished teachers a good summer.