MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION K-16

Thursday, April 3, 2025

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Education K-16 was held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair		Senator Royce West
Senator Donna Campbell, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brent Hagenbuch
Senator Adam Hinojosa
Senator Phil King
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Mayes Middleton
Senator Tan Parker
Senator Angela Paxton

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:16 AM. The following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Donna Campbell

Senator King assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 2361 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

Senator King sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator King moved that SB 2361 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 530 and recognized the author, Senator Sparks, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator King moved that SB 530 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 9:54 AM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:35 PM Senator Bettencourt reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out SB 1242 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1242 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SJR 59 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SJR 59 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 757 and recognized the author, Senator Middleton, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Middleton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 757 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1241 and recognized the author, Senator Middleton, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1241 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1085 and recognized Senator Menéndez, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1085 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

A quorum was established at 3:20 PM.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 605 and recognized Senator Menéndez, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Parker sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Menéndez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Bettencourt moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 605 do not pass but that CSSB 605 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 1871 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Bettencourt moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Parker moved that SB 1871 do not pass but that CSSB 1871 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1873 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Parker moved that SB 1873 do not pass but that CSSB 1873 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Paxton moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1874 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Paxton sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Bettencourt moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Paxton moved that SB 1874 do not pass but that CSSB 1874 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1872.

Senator Paxton moved that SB 1872 do not pass but that CSSB 1872 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 762.

Senator Parker moved that SB 762 do not pass but that CSSB 762 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 1962.

Senator Hagenbuch moved that SB 1962 do not pass but that CSSB 1962 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 1750 and recognized the author, Senator Paxton, to explain the bill.

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Paxton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Parker moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Parker moved that SB 1750 do not pass but that CSSB 1750 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Paxton assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 2252.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 2252 do not pass but that CSSB 2252 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 2253.

Senator Parker moved that SB 2253 do not pass but that CSSB 2253 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 2365.

Senator Hagenbuch moved that SB 2365 do not pass but that CSSB 2365 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 1924 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

Senator Middleton sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Hinojosa moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1924 do not pass but that CSSB 1924 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 37 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

Senator Parker sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Middleton moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 37 do not pass but that CSSB 37 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 769 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

Senator Parker sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Menéndez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Paxton moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 769 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

With a quorum present the following items were revisited and adopted.

Senator Hagenbuch moved the adoption of the committee substitute for senate bill 2361; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hagenbuch moved the adoption of the committee substitute for senate bill 757; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2231 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, Adam, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 2231 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1878 and recognized Senator Campbell, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1878 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1409 and recognized Senator Campbell, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1409 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2431 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 2431 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 2314 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

Senator Campbell moved that SB 2314 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2138 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell moved that SB 2138 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 4:41 PM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair

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Carmen Fish, Clerk