Gov. Greg Abbott
AUSTIN – Following the Texas House today voting to send House Bill 2 to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for signature, education leaders across the state are voicing strong support for the House’s priority legislation, which delivers the largest public education funding increase in Texas history.
Authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, HB 2 directs a landmark $8.5 billion investment into Texas classrooms, bringing the state’s average annual funding per student to about $17,000. Included in this record investment is $1.3 billion to offset rising operational costs for school districts, a record-setting $4.2 billion for teacher and non-administrative staff pay raises, $2.2 billion to overhaul special education and improve student outcomes from pre-K through graduation, and $800 million in additional support for growing and rural districts.
What they are saying about the historic increase in public education funding:
• Texas Association of Rural Schools: “The Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS) commends the Texas Legislature for its bold and historic investment of $8.5 billion in public education through House Bill 2. This transformative legislation includes long-overdue salary increases for Texas teachers, an investment of $300 million in the small school allotment, which marks a significant milestone in supporting the future of our schools. For rural districts across the state, this investment is more than just funding — it is a lifeline. It provides much-needed resources to meet growing classroom demands and offers students in rural areas similar opportunities available in urban and suburban settings. In rural communities, the local school district is not only the foundation of education but also the center of the community — economically, culturally, and socially. With the passage of HB 2, lawmakers are investing in the heart of rural Texas, which will strengthen local economies, stabilize small towns, and reaffirm the state’s commitment to ensuring every child, no matter their geographic location, receives a quality education. TARS is grateful to the leadership of both the House and Senate for their collaboration and vision for public schools. This legislation represents a critical step forward for all of Texas, and especially for the rural communities that are the backbone of our state.” —Randy Willis, executive director
• Texas Association of Midsize Schools: “On behalf of the Texas Association of Midsize Schools, we extend our sincere gratitude to Speaker Burrows, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, Chairman Buckley, Chairman Creighton, and other key legislators for their collaboration and finding acceptable solutions on CSHB2. The increase in funding is a vital investment in our students, educators, and communities. Your leadership helps ensure that every child has access to the quality education they deserve. Thank you for recognizing the importance of strong public schools and for taking action to help them thrive.” — Joe Kucera, superintendent of Lorena ISD
• Texas Association of Community Schools: “We are very thankful for the monumental investment made by the House and Senate in public education through House Bill 2. We appreciate their understanding that schools are a community, and all staff members contribute to the success of our students. We are grateful for the additional funding for special education students in this session’s legislative actions. All students deserve a quality education. Ensuring that students from special populations are given every advantage we can give them to reach their highest potential is a priority for educators. We commend our elected officials for acknowledging that small and mid-sized school districts make up the majority of the state of Texas and have the same requirements of larger schools, with additional challenges due to their rural nature (personnel, dollars, and time). Increasing the small and mid-size allotment helps our districts navigate those requirements and serve our students to the best of our abilities!” — Dr. Crystal White, executive director
• Texas Classroom Teachers Association: “Texas students deserve the highest quality education that our schools can provide, and that requires significant resources from the state. HB 2’s $8.5 billion investment in teachers and schools, much of it flowing directly into classrooms, represents a targeted approach to providing the support and assistance our students and teachers need. With this legislation, the state has made a major funding commitment to our education system, and we would especially like to thank the many legislators who have advocated for educators and their students throughout this process.”
• Texas Rural Education Association: “Thank you to the House and Senate for working together to increase funding for public education and for recognizing the unique needs of rural schools. This meaningful investment will strengthen our communities, support educators, and ensure that every student has the resources they need to succeed in classrooms across Texas.” — Bill Tarleton, executive director
• Texas Association of School Boards: “The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) supports House Bill 2, a school funding bill that reflects a commitment by state leaders in both the Texas Senate and House to invest in Texas public school students. HB 2 dedicates critical funding to increase teacher pay, strengthen school safety, support special education services for students, and provide support for other school staff who are central to student and teacher success. The bill also establishes a new Fixed Costs Allotment to help school districts manage rising expenses—such as insurance premiums, utilities, and other basic operational costs—to help schools maintain the core services students rely on every day. Strong public schools are the foundation of thriving communities and key contributors to the economic success of Texas. Continued investment is essential not only to address today’s challenges, but to help public schools remain stable, effective, and equipped to serve future generations. TASB promotes educational excellence for Texas public schoolchildren and supports policies that enable students to learn, grow, and thrive. We appreciate the work of both the House and Senate in advancing this important legislation and urge the final passage of HB 2 before the close of session.”
• Texas School Alliance: “The legislature’s commitment of $8.5 billion in new funding for public education is much needed and appreciated. Texas teachers will receive the largest single pay increase in Texas history, and that’s a very good thing. Districts also will receive significant funds to help with other costs beyond the districts’ control, such as utilities, insurance, and fuel. Additional funding for special education students, safety and security measures, and early childhood education is very helpful. The impact on individual districts obviously will vary, which is always true in a state as large and diverse as Texas. We will continue to analyze it as districts work to finalize budgets and fill large budget deficits for the next school year. We look forward to working with our state leaders to implement House Bill 2.” — HD Chambers
• Educate Texas: “House Bill 2 represents a bold, multibillion-dollar investment in public education, delivering essential support for Texas students, teachers, and schools. We’re especially encouraged by the inclusion of the PREP allotment, which provides a historic investment in high-quality teacher preparation, including teacher residencies and strong partnerships with educator preparation programs. Together with the bill’s other innovative funding streams, this comprehensive approach will strengthen the teacher workforce and advance student outcomes across the state.” — Joanna Warren, director of Policy and Advocacy
Texas 2036: “From investing in our state’s teachers through much needed pay raises and training to fortifying the classroom-to-career pipeline through greater support for career and technical education to boosting student literacy and numeracy efforts, lawmakers have come through with a school funding package that will go a long way to setting up the next generation of Texans for success in the classroom and in life.” — Mary Lynn Pruneda
• Commit Partnership: “The school finance agreement reached by the House and Senate is a historic, strategic investment in the children, and the future, of Texas. By rewarding effective educators, encouraging high-quality teacher preparation, and enhancing progress monitoring in our earliest grades, our state’s leaders are truly putting students first, and we’re excited to see what they are about to accomplish as a result.”
• Philanthropy Advocates: “By supporting today’s teachers and making generational investments in well-prepared future educators, HB 2 gives Texas its best chance yet at transforming student outcomes. We commend Chairman Buckley and Chairman Creighton for their leadership, and Texas philanthropy stands ready to support our students and educators in making their vision a reality.” —Ryan Franklin, Managing Director for Policy and Advocacy
• Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops: “The Texas bishops are pleased to see the House and Senate come together to pass a historic increase in public school funding this legislative session. House Bill 2 will bring additional resources to our public schools and pay raises for a public school teachers that we hope improves public education in Texas for all children.” — Jennifer Allmon, executive director
• Greater Houston Partnership: “The $8.5 billion increase in funding for public schools is an investment in our children and fuels Texas’ economic growth for the next generation. Houston business leaders applaud Lieutenant Governor Patrick and Speaker Burrows for their leadership and dedication to their robust, comprehensive approach to education modernization that we have seen throughout the 89th Legislature. Any individual component of House Bill 2 would have marked a major milestone, but combined they represent the most significant investment in Texas education to date.” —Taylor Landin, executive vice president and chief policy officer
