In this edition of IDRA’s Texas Education Policy Alert, you’ll find get information on how last week’s voucher hearing went, more ways to get involved to oppose vouchers, and what hearings are upcoming this week!

Make sure you keep receiving these notices by subscribing to IDRA’s Texas Education Policy Alert! And please tell your friends! Our alerts are available in Spanish too.

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In this edition…

• Committee Hearings This Week
• Updates on HB 3, the House Voucher Bill
• Highlights from Last Week
• Share Your Story and Call Your Rep!

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Coming Up: Week of March 17, 2025

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School Discipline – Hearing This Week 

This week, the House Public Education Committee will meet to hear House Bill 6. This harmful school discipline bill would open the door to suspending and expelling our young children for what is considered as “disruptive” behavior. All students across Texas deserve safe schools where they can thrive. 

Read the latest Dallas Morning News article that includes quotes from our Chief Legal Analyst and Education Policy Fellow Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., and Kaci Wright about the proposed House Bill 6. 

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House Bill 3, The Costly House Voucher Bill

Last week, the House Public Education Committee heard its school voucher bill, House Bill 3. The hearing was over 20 hours with an overwhelming majority of public testimony against the bill. IDRA and partners had a strong presence in Austin to oppose the proposed voucher program. Currently, the bill is pending in the committee, but Chair Brad Buckley wants the legislation to move to the House floor quickly in a matter of weeks. 

The Legislative Budget Board also released the fiscal note for HB 3 estimating the voucher program will cost the state over $4 billion in its fourth year!  

 

Action: Advocates should call the House Public Education committee before the bill gets voted out of committee. Find their office numbers below!

House Public Education Committee Members

• Rep. James Talarico – (512) 463-0821
• Chairman Rep. Brad Buckley – (512) 463-0684
• Vice Chair Rep. Diego Bernal – (512) 463-0532
• Rep. Alma Allen – (512) 463-0744
• Rep. Trent Ashby – (512) 463-0508
• Rep. John Bryant – (512) 463-0576
• Rep. Charles Cunningham – (512) 463-0520
• Rep. Harold Dutton – (512) 463-0510
• Rep. James Frank – (512) 463-0534
• Rep. Gina Hinojosa – (512) 463-0668
• Rep. Todd Hunter – (512) 463-0672
• Rep. Helen Kerwin – (512) 463-0538
• Rep. Jeff Leach – (512) 463-0544
• Rep. Terri Leo Wilson – (512) 463-0502
• Rep. Alan Schoolcraft – (512) 463-0602

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The Last Chance to be Heard is Now!

There will be no more hearings on the voucher bills that are making their way around the Texas Capitol. We know that you and most Texans were not able to testify about these bills in person. But it’s not too late to speak up! We’ve created our own comment tool so you can voice your concerns about the harms of a Texas voucher bill. It takes just about three minutes to send. We will share these stories on social media and with members of the Texas House and Senate.  

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Testimony from Last Week

Voucher Systems are Unfair and Unconstitutional – IDRA Invited Testimony against HB 3, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D, to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 11, 2025 

Students Should Receive Language Protections and Programs in Any State-Funded Education System – IDRA Testimony Against HB 3, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 11, 2025 

Education Saving Accounts Harm Efforts to Fully Fund Public Schools – TLEEC Testimony Against House Bill 3, submitted by Kaci Wright to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 11, 2025

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Tools & Resources

Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas
See our Infographic: 5 Data Snacks on IDRA’s Policy Priorities

The Big Cost of Proposed Voucher Legislation, Data Map

How to Testify before the Texas Legislature, Infographic

Get more advocacy tips and videos on IDRA’s SEEN website.