How Texas is proposing to fund Education in 2025

By Mackenzie Sams, masams@ttu.edu

Texas lawmakers are deliberating on a plan to raise teacher salaries, particularly in rural areas. 

The plan, S.B. 26, was introduced by Senator Brandon Creighton, the chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16. At a committee meeting, he called it a historic bill that will establish a permanent allotment for teacher salaries.

Photo of Sen. Brandon Creighton

“We all agree that teachers deserve real support and protections,” Creighton said. “They deserve to know that the people of Texas and state lawmakers value their work, not just in words, but in deed and in action.” 

S.B. 26 also includes a parity increase for teachers in small and rural districts. Except for larger districts in Lubbock and Amarillo, the panhandle area is mostly made up of smaller schools with only dozens or a few hundreds students each. 

The bill passed by a vote of 31-0 in the Senate on Feb. 26. It now faces scrutiny from the House.

Image shows S.B. 26’s status as of Mar 13, 2025

Another bill, S.B. 4, would lower property taxes across the state. 

In Texas, most education funding comes from district-level property taxes. This means that poorer communities with cheaper homes often have to raise the property tax rate in order to receive the same resources as richer areas.

Schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families can get extra funds from the federal government under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. 

So far, disbursement of Title I funds has not been affected by the freeze on federal grants. The bill would offer an additional $3 million in education funding to help fill in the gap. 

S.B. 4 passed the Senate unanimously in a 30-0 vote. 

In a statement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulated Senator Paul Bettencourt.

Photo of Sen. Paul Bettencourt

“It is clear Senators from both sides of the aisle understand that when an increased Homestead Exemption and more compression are combined, homeowners receive maximum tax relief benefit,” Patrick said. 

Image shows S.B. 4’s status as of Mar 13, 2025

The controversial school voucher bill was expected to be fast-tracked to a vote, but it has yet to make it out of the House Public Education Committee.

The bill, H.B. 3, would give families taxpayer money to send their kids to private schools. Critics of H.B. 3, say the bill is too expensive and would only benefit children with rich parents. 

Reporting from Propublica, a prize-winning investigative news organization, found that in Arizona, where a similar voucher program was implemented, low-income families aren’t using vouchers, as they can’t afford transportation and food. 

In his state of the state address, Gov. Greg Abbott defended the bill without naming it. “Parents must be empowered to choose the school that’s best for them,” Abbott said.

The panhandle has four charter schools in the Lubbock area.

Image shows H.B. 3’s status as of Mar 13, 2025

A law passed in 2023 requires each school district in Texas to have an armed officer at each school. Smaller districts have long criticized the law for not providing enough funding for this new expense. 

If passed, S.B. 260, would provide $30,000 per campus for schools to use on implementing safety measures, plus extra funding per student. 

On March 13, the bill passed the Senate by 31-0 vote and moved to the House.

Image shows S.B. 260’s status as of Feb. 25, 2025