BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1573

By: Jones, Venton

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that there is a custodial staffing shortage affecting public school districts across Texas that has negatively impacted school cleanliness and safety.

H.B. 1573 seeks to address this issue by establishing a uniform standard for custodial workloads.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1573 amends the Education Code to require each public school district's board of trustees to adopt a policy regarding custodian workload for district facilities. The policy must establish benchmarks for the amount of square feet that may be assigned to a properly equipped school custodian for maintenance and custodial services during an eight-hour shift. The bill requires a district to post the adopted policy on the district's website and requires the board of trustees to provide benchmarks categorized by elementary, middle, and high school campuses, and other district facilities.

H.B. 1573 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.