Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for April 16th, 2025

Texas House of Representatives

---

Subject: Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) – Education Savings Accounts

• Author: State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), Sponsor: Brad Buckley (R-Salado)
• Caption: Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT / AMEND
• Background: 
  • SB 2 establishes an Education Savings Account program that allows parents to access to funds (their taxpayer dollars) to help pay for private or alternative education services. The program empowers families to direct their child’s education by offering funding for tuition, tutoring, materials, and more—prioritizing special needs and lower-income students. It limits the program to $1 billion for the first biennium, likely meaning only a small portion of children will have access to the ESAs over the biennium, unless funding is increased. SB 2 introduces market incentives into the education system without raising taxes, and empowers parents to make better decisions about their child’s education.

Subject: House Bill 2 (HB 2) – Massive New Funding for Public Schools

• Author: State Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado)
• Caption: Relating to public education and public school finance.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 2 represents a massive $7.7 billion expansion of public education spending without delivering any meaningful property tax relief for Texans. While the bill is framed as an education finance overhaul, it primarily functions as a vehicle to funnel more taxpayer money into the traditional public school system. The legislation mandates that a large portion of new funds go toward across-the-board pay increases, even if districts are not experiencing performance improvements or enrollment growth. The bill grows government, shifts control further from taxpayers, and doubles down on a status quo that has failed, on average, to deliver results.
  • However, one positive element is the bill’s treatment of public charter schools. It rightly lifts the cap on charter school facilities funding, expands eligibility for incentive allotments, and ensures that high-performing charters receive fairer treatment in the state’s funding formulas. These provisions move toward leveling the playing field between traditional ISDs and charters that operate more efficiently and have a better track record of success. Still, the few bright spots for charter schools do not outweigh the bill’s broader flaws. HB 2 represents an enormous increase in education spending with no structural reforms or fiscal restraint. The nearly $8 billion in funding would be better spent on property tax relief, and ESAs and Charter schools which provide more educational choice for Texas children and parents.

Subject: House Bill 213 (HB 213) – “at-risk” student expansion and mandates

• Author: State Rep. Mary González (D-San Elizario)
• Caption: Relating to the inclusion of chronically absent students as students at risk of dropping out of school and the collection and reporting of data regarding those students.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 213 expands the definition of “at-risk” students to include those who are chronically absent, defined as missing more than 10% of instructional time. By adding “chronically absent students” to the existing list of “students at risk of dropping out” in Section 29.081 of the Education Code, the bill automatically triggers the requirement that these students receive accelerated instruction and other dropout prevention services already mandated for at-risk students, which may lead to increased costs and regulatory burdens for school districts. The bill also requires detailed data reporting, including reporting based on race or ethnicity, and public dissemination through the TEA, creating new compliance obligations. While tracking absenteeism can help target problems, the bill creates another unfunded mandate on school districts with no guarantee of improved outcomes and relies on top-down mandates rather than empowering parents or communities to address attendance issues locally.

Subject: House Bill 222 (HB 222) – Shifts safety funds for professional development

• Author: State Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin)
• Caption: Relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 222 expands the list of approved uses for the school safety allotment to include professional development for educators specifically focused on classroom behavioral management. While training teachers to handle disruptive behavior can be valuable, this bill unnecessarily broadens the scope of a fund intended for direct safety measures. It shifts the focus away from tangible, results-driven safety upgrades—like infrastructure improvements and law enforcement presence—toward softer, less measurable interventions. This change also opens the door for future legislative creep, where more instructional or ideological content could be added under the guise of safety. This represents mission drift in a budget line item and dilutes the accountability of school safety spending. Taxpayer funds should be tightly focused on physical safety and security, not diverted to professional development with vague standards or debatable effectiveness.

Subject: House Bill 645 (HB 645) – New State deaf-blind program

• Author: State Rep. Mary González (D-San Elizario)
• Caption: Relating to the provision of certain co-navigation services to individuals who are deaf-blind.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 645 mandates the creation of a new taxpayer-funded co-navigation services program to assist Texans who are deaf-blind. While the program aims to improve accessibility and independence, it imposes a substantial and ongoing fiscal burden on state taxpayers, to the tune of $1.6 million per year, without built-in efficiency requirements or sunset review. The bill authorizes reimbursement tiers for co-navigators and expands HHSC’s authority to create training and oversight. While the intent is noble, the bill significantly expands government services and spending in a narrow area without leveraging existing structures or resources. This bill increases bureaucracy and dependency on state taxpayer dollars, instead of leaning on community based solutions.

Subject: House Bill 1458 (HB 1458) – Expands school security

• Author: State Rep. Will Metcalf (R-Montgomery)
• Caption: Relating to the armed security officers required to be present at public schools and the appointment of reserve police officers by a school district police department.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 1458 allows school districts to appoint reserve police officers to help secure campuses without adding permanent staff or long-term financial obligations. It authorizes retired or part-time law enforcement officers to serve in school security roles, offering districts greater flexibility in meeting safety requirements. Reserve officers are not eligible for full-time benefits or pensions, reducing ongoing costs to taxpayers. The bill ensures proper oversight by requiring most officers to hold or maintain peace officer licensing and training, and by preserving their obligations under the Private Security Act. By using existing trained personnel rather than expanding full-time law enforcement payrolls, the bill addresses safety needs without growing government bureaucracy.

Subject: House Bill 643 (HB 643) – Weakens public contractor accountability

• Author: State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio)
• Caption: Relating to the requirement for payment bonds from certain public work contractors.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 643 weakens financial safeguards by significantly raising the minimum contract size that triggers a payment bond requirement for public construction projects. Instead of requiring bonds for jobs over $25,000, the bill raises the threshold to $100,000—quadrupling the risk exposure to taxpayer dollars. While framed as helping small businesses, the bill opens the door to undercapitalized or inexperienced contractors working on public projects without sufficient financial backing to guarantee worker and subcontractor payments. This could result in unpaid laborers and suppliers, legal disputes, and project delays—ultimately costing the public more in the long run.

Subject: House Bill 3093 (HB 3093) – High-value appraisal protests

• Author: State Rep. Denise Villalobos (R-Corpus Christi)
• Caption: Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit for a year in which a property owner provides notice that the owner intends to appeal an order of an appraisal review board determining a protest by the owner regarding the appraisal of the owner’s property.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT / AMEND
• Background: 
  • HB 3093 aims to improve the accuracy of local property tax rate calculations by allowing taxing units to exclude portions of high-value property from their base calculations when major appraisal value protests are anticipated. It applies only to coastal counties with populations under 500,000 and affects high-value properties among the top 20 in the appraisal district. Under the bill, property owners who intend to litigate their appraisal values must report the amount of property value they don’t dispute and agree to pay taxes on that uncontested amount. This provides taxing entities with a clearer picture of reliable revenue, helping avoid unrealistic budget expectations. The bill supports responsible budgeting and protects taxpayers from the downstream effects of revenue overestimation. However, the bill could be improved by expanding its applicability statewide, since the risk of large-scale litigation and revenue miscalculation is not limited to coastal counties. Additional safeguards should be included such as tightening reporting deadlines, requiring standardized disclosure and notification forms, and mandating future rate adjustments if litigation is resolved in favor of the appraisal district would further enhance fairness and accountability.

Subject: House Bill 117 (HB 117) – New Education Task Force

• Author: State Rep. Alan Schoolcraft (R-McQueeney)
• Caption: Relating to the establishment of the governor’s task force on the governance of early childhood education and care.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 117 sets up a new government task force under the Texas Education Agency to evaluate and propose reforms to the state’s early childhood education and care programs. Although it claims to seek better coordination among agencies, it ultimately creates redundant oversight and comes with a $2.15 million price tag for taxpayers, mostly going toward administrative costs and IT upgrades—without any promise of concrete savings or program improvements. The bill duplicates responsibilities coordination authorities that existing agencies already have. Rather than simplifying and streamlining government operations within existing agencies, it adds another layer of complexity at public expense.

Texas Senate

---

Subject: Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 (SCR 42) – Defends biological sex definitions

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Urging the state to adopt the policy to recognize two sexes, male and female.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SCR 42 states that Texas is to recognize only two biological sexes: male and female. It asserts that sex is an immutable, biological characteristic identifiable at birth, and directs state language and policies to reflect that reality. The measure pushes back against ideologically driven efforts that blur sex distinctions, which can erode legal protections for women and undermine family structures rooted in biological reality. This resolution promotes clarity in public policy, reducing costly legal ambiguity. It affirms the rights of women in public institutions, like schools and shelters, without requiring additional state spending, and reinforces a biological framework that aligns with traditional family values. Overall, it signals that Texas will prioritize biological truth over ideological trends. For these reasons, TFR supports SCR 42.

Subject: Senate Bill 240 (SB 240) – Protect Women’s Spaces

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• Caption: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 240 requires that restrooms, locker rooms, and similar multi-user spaces in buildings owned or operated by the state or local governments be designated for use based on biological sex. It further mandates that correctional facilities and domestic violence shelters operate according to the same biological standards, protecting the safety and dignity of women and children. The bill empowers citizens and the Attorney General to enforce these provisions and imposes escalating civil fines on noncompliant government entities. The bill minimizes potential liabilities, controls bureaucratic overreach, and limits legal costs to taxpayers. The bill safeguards women’s and children’s privacy and reinforces parental expectations of safety and decency in public spaces.

Subject: Senate Bill 393 (SB 393) – Limits local government debt

• Author: State Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland)
• Caption: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to issue debt to purchase or lease property.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 393 prohibits local governments from issuing debt to buy or lease property that won’t last as long as the debt itself. This reform ensures taxpayers aren’t still paying for equipment or assets that are no longer in use. It also limits how long local governments can finance real estate improvements, tying repayment periods to the actual lifespan of the project. These reforms protect against irresponsible borrowing and force local officials to better match spending with real needs. 

Subject: Senate Bill 530 (SB 530) – Broadens accreditation options

• Author: State Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland)
• Caption: Relating to the accreditation of certain postsecondary educational institutions in this state or of certain programs offered by those institutions.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 530 gives Texas colleges and universities more freedom to choose their accrediting agency, rather than being locked into a single regional accreditor. This change aligns Texas with updated federal rules and increases competition among accreditors, potentially lowering compliance costs. By broadening the definition of a “recognized accrediting agency,” the bill reduces monopolistic control. This bill encourages market choice and minimizes bureaucratic dependency on one accreditor. It may also help schools avoid political influence from a single accrediting body. Additionally, it reduces barriers for innovation in higher education by removing outdated accreditation mandates. The bill reflects a limited government approach by decentralizing authority and empowering local institutions to choose the path that best fits their needs.

Subject: Senate Bill 586 (SB 586) – Protects historic Texas cemeteries

• Author: State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)
• Caption: Relating to establishing the Historic Texas Cemeteries Designation Program; authorizing a fee.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 586 creates a formal state-level program to recognize historic cemeteries in Texas, ensuring these culturally and historically important sites are preserved. It empowers the Texas Historical Commission to evaluate applications, notify nearby landowners, and maintain a public record of designated cemeteries. Importantly, this designation is informational—it does not interfere with landowners’ rights to use surrounding property. The bill introduces a small fee (up to $25) to offset administrative costs. By placing an existing administrative program into statute, the legislation helps ensure stability and accountability for the long term. The bill avoids large expenditures, respects property rights, and creates a voluntary framework that protects historic cemeteries at minimal cost. 

Subject: Senate Bill 844 (SB 844) – Limits zoning protest abuse

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Relating to procedures for changes to a zoning regulation or district boundary.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 844 updates outdated zoning protest laws that have been misused to delay housing development and drive up taxpayer costs. The bill ensures that only significant groups of nearby property owners—not single individuals—can trigger a supermajority vote to block zoning changes. It exempts citywide zoning reforms from costly protest procedures and limits unnecessary notifications, helping local governments streamline planning without wasting taxpayer dollars. By capping legal challenges to just 60 days, the bill helps curb frivolous lawsuits that delay growth and increase legal expenses for cities. The bill helps reduce red tape, lower housing costs, and enable cities to respond to population growth with more efficient zoning tools. It balances property rights with the need for responsible development and reduces bureaucratic burdens on taxpayers.

Subject: Senate Bill 884 (SB 884) – Health insurance cost savings

• Author: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)
• Caption: Relating to establishment of a shared savings program for health maintenance organizations and preferred provider benefit plans.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 884 requires Texas health insurers to reward patients who shop for affordable out-of-network healthcare services. Under the bill, if a patient finds a lower-cost provider and pays less than the typical in-network rate, the insurer must share a portion of those savings with the patient. This system increases price transparency by requiring insurers to publish average reimbursement rates online and over the phone. The legislation promotes patient choice and cost-conscious behavior without adding new government bureaucracy. The bill helps to reduce reduce overall healthcare costs by incentivizing market-driven decisions, not government regulation. 

Subject: Senate Bill 1184 (SB 1184) – Vintage wine sales

• Author: State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe)
• Caption: Relating to the age of wine authorized to be sold by a wine collection seller.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1184 allows private wine collectors in Texas to sell older bottles of wine—now as young as 10 years old—to licensed restaurants. Previously, this was only permitted for wines aged at least 20 years. By lowering the age threshold, the bill expands opportunities for collectors to legally monetize their inventory and for restaurants to enhance their offerings. This change incentivizes keeping collectible wine within Texas rather than forcing out-of-state sales. This supports free-market principles, promotes property rights, reduces unnecessary regulatory barriers, and encourages private economic activity without new government programs or subsidies.

Subject: Senate Bill 1261 (SB 1261) – Water project funding

• Author: State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Relating to the financing of water supply projects included in the state water plan; authorizing the issuance of obligations.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1261 gives cities, water districts, and other political subdivisions more flexible tools to finance large, regional water projects identified in the State Water Plan. It allows qualifying entities to issue long-term bonds—up to 50 years in length—without relying on state debt or taxpayer-backed financing. This extension is designed to ease the cost burden on current ratepayers by aligning repayment schedules with future population growth and water usage. The bill focuses on projects that are already approved and necessary for Texas’s water security. The bill avoids expanding state programs while empowering local self-governance and market-based funding. It protects taxpayers by prohibiting the use of property taxes to repay these debts, and supports long-term infrastructure that ensures reliable and affordable water for future generations of Texans.

Subject: Senate Bill 1262 (SB 1262) – TEA peace officers

• Author: State Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)
• Caption: Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE / AMEND
• Background: 
  • SB 1262 includes many well-intentioned school safety provisions, however, the most concerning aspect is that it grants the Texas Education Agency the authority to commission peace officers. This blurs the line between education oversight and direct law enforcement, introducing a new layer of state-level policing that duplicates local efforts. It sets a dangerous precedent of expanding a regulatory agency’s power, centralizing more law enforcement functions in unelected bureaucracies. While enhanced safety audits, planning and resources are quite laudable, the state’s focus should remain on supporting local districts rather than creating a TEA police force. Fiscally, this could open the door to future funding obligations for a new TEA enforcement division, diverting taxpayer dollars from core educational priorities. For these reasons, TFR opposes SB 1262 unless the TEA peace office commissioning authority is removed.

Subject: Senate Bill 1870 (SB 1870) – Local drug preemption

• Author: State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Relating to municipal and county enforcement of drug and consumable hemp product laws; providing civil penalties.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1870 ensures local governments cannot override or ignore state drug laws, particularly those involving marijuana or hemp products. It responds to cities attempting to decriminalize certain drug offenses through ordinances or ballot initiatives. By empowering the state attorney general to take legal action and by imposing significant civil fines, the bill ensures uniform law enforcement across Texas. This prevents local governments from promoting legal confusion or selectively enforcing laws based on political agendas. It protects taxpayers from cities engaging in costly legal battles or passing unenforceable policies. It also limits government overreach at the local level by reinforcing existing state standards.

Subject: Senate Bill 2010 (SB 2010) – Bans local guaranteed income programs

• Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Caption: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to establish and operate a guaranteed income program.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 2010 bans cities and counties in Texas from creating or running so-called “guaranteed income” programs that give people cash or similar benefits without any conditions. These types of programs operate like taxpayer-financed giveaways, distributing money to individuals regardless of need or work. By prohibiting local governments from using public funds on such efforts—even when federally permitted—the bill reinforces Texas’s constitutional protections against public money being gifted away. This ensures tax dollars go toward essential services, not experiments in welfare expansion. It also protects taxpayers from local governments committing to unsustainable entitlement programs that could increase long-term costs.

Subject: Senate Bill 2051 (SB 2051) – Impeachment process reform

• Author: State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
• Caption: Relating to the impeachment or removal from office of certain public officers, including procedures governing the impeachment, trial on impeachment, and disqualification of state officers, and to the grounds for which certain public officers may be removed from office.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 2051 brings needed structure and accountability to the impeachment process in Texas. By requiring open testimony and advance access to evidence, it ensures transparency and informed decision-making, reducing political maneuvering and rushed proceedings. The bill also prevents family conflicts of interest in voting, promoting fairness. Cost reporting requirements help taxpayers track the use of public funds during costly impeachment events. Limiting removal to conduct that occurs while in office upholds democratic voter choice and protects officials from retroactive political attacks. These reforms uphold due process, reduce waste, and ensure impeachment is used as a serious constitutional tool—not political theater.

---

---

Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public, sharing Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Notices are provided prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.