Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 20 and House Bill 120 into law to expand career and technical education opportunities for students across Texas.
“Career training is a game-changer for our students, for our state, and for our employers,” said Abbott. “A four-year college degree is not the right pathway for every student. It may be a smarter pathway for a student to get career training. In just the past two years, Texas has invested more than $7 billion in career training programs across Texas. Career training and technical education is bigger and better than it has ever been with the signing of these two laws.”
During his remarks, Abbott highlighted that Texas is the blueprint for America’s economic success, noting the state’s continued investment in our workforce through programs like the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership Program, the Jobs & Education for Texans Grant Program, and adult high school charter programs. The governor emphasized the need to modernize the state’s young and diverse workforce through career and technical education. Additionally, Abbott touted that Texas continues to create better job and bigger paycheck opportunities through career training investments to cement Texas’ status as a global economic powerhouse.
In his 2025 State of the State Address, Abbott made expanding career training an emergency item for the 89th Regular Legislative Session to ensure Texas has a workforce ready for the jobs of tomorrow.
Also at the bill signing ceremony was State Senator Bob Hall, State Reps. Gary Gates and Keith Bell, and other state and local leaders.
House Bill 20 (Gates/Schwertner) establishes the Applied Sciences Pathway Program to allow 11th and 12th grade students to earn high school diplomas while concurrently completing certificate programs through partnerships with institutions of higher education (IHE). Through the partnerships, students may substitute graduation requirements with credits in career and technical education courses (CTE).
House Bill 120 (Bell/Schwertner) strengthens college, career, and military readiness in Texas public school by expanding access to high-quality CTE programs. The bill also improves college and career advising by ensuing counselors use up-to-date workforce data, and providing funding for military training programs.
