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Lawmakers tout $8 billion school finance package as largest in Texas history
Summary
Officials at the event said the legislature is advancing an $8 billion school finance package focused on teacher pay, special education, full-day pre-K and other classroom dollars; sponsors and leaders called it the largest school finance investment in state history.
Speaker Burrows and other leaders highlighted a proposed $8,000,000,000 school finance package they described as the largest investment in Texas history, and they said it prioritizes teacher pay, special education, full-day pre-K, career and technical education (CTE) and school safety funding.
"That number is really important," Speaker Burrows said, adding the funding would be "the largest investment school finance bill in the history of Texas." Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick credited bill authors Brad Buckley and Brandon Creighton, calling the effort a "masterpiece of school finance" that prioritizes teachers.
Speakers cautioned against focusing on a single line item; for example, one question noted that the amended substitute in the senate reduced the basic student allotment from $395 to $55, and Speaker Burrows urged looking at the bill’s full package — teacher pay, special education funding, pre-K, CTE and safety — rather than one number. The officials framed the $8 billion as intended to deliver classroom dollars to public education and said they expect to return to the issue as needed.
What happens next: officials said the bill is being processed in the legislature; no formal vote or signature on the school finance bill was recorded at this event. Reported dollar amounts and allotment figures were presented during the Q&A by participants and should be verified against the bill text for final accuracy.
