Skip to main content

State Board of Education Celebrates Passage of 89th Legislative Session Priorities

AUSTIN, Texas – June 1, 2025 – The State Board of Education (SBOE) recognizes the passage of several key items identified as state board priorities during the 89th Texas Legislative session. These legislative actions reflect the board’s mission to strengthen and support Texas public education.

“These new laws will directly support our work to improve student outcomes while giving teachers the resources they need to do it,” Chairman, Aaron Kinsey. “On behalf of the board, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Educator Commissioner Mike Morath, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas Legislators for supporting these priorities and other key legislation that will benefit Texas kids and their families.”

The following key priorities were signed into law:

  • School Library Content 
    Establishes a Local School Library Advisory Council, clarifying local challenge processes and requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to update collection standards. (Senate Bill 13) 
  • Special Education Funding 
    Codified the Special Education Funding Commission’s recommendations. (House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 568)
  • Implementation of Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment 
    Grants rulemaking authority to the board to address parental rights by establishing requirement for superintendent to appear before SBOE if five parent grievances are overruled by the agency in a year. Requires TEKS to comply with new §28.0043 restrictions. (Senate Bill 12)
  • Certified Teachers Support
    Funding increase for hiring certified teachers and/or increasing salaries for certified teachers (House Bill 2)
  • NEXT Program
    Creation of the Navigating Excellence Through Targeted Support (NEXT) program providing $3.5M to fund student-level targeted math and reading intervention supports (Senate Bill 1)
  • Certification Exam Fees Reimbursements
    Waiving fees on first attempts on special education and bilingual certification exams (House Bill 2)
  • Teacher Recruitment and Retention Recommendations 
    Addresses teacher compensation, training and support (House Bill 2) and working conditions through recommendations made by the Governor’s Teacher Vacancy Task Force (House Bill 6)
  • Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (RPEP) Program Expansion
    RPEP funding cap increased to $20M per year (House Bill 2)

The key priorities were originally adopted by the board in November 2024 and submitted to the Texas Legislature for consideration.

The board will work closely with the Texas Education Agency to ensure effective rollout of these new laws. For more information and updates on implementation, visit TEA’s 89th Legislature Updates webpage, https://tea.texas.gov/89th

### 
 

  Print