Texas PTA's Legislative Priorities
89th Legislative Session

Texas PTA is proud to continue building upon our long-standing legacy of advocating to make every child’s potential a reality within the following pillars: Supporting Student Success, Health and Safety, Meaningful Assessment and Accountability, and Strengthening Public Schools.

Mark your calendars for Rally Day in Austin on February 24, 2025.

Improve Public School Funding Advocate to increase the basic allotment, fully fund public schools, automatically adjust for cost of living changes, and base funding on enrollment versus attendance. Fact Sheeet

Resolve Teacher & Staff Shortages Advocate to address teacher and staff shortages and improve retention. Fact Sheet

Increase School Safety Advocate to increase funding for school safety and allow local control to determine what additional safety measures are needed in each school district. Fact Sheet

Transform School Accountability Advocate to provide a meaningful state-wide school accountability system that more broadly reviews school and district performance, includes a family engagement component, accurately reflects a student's readiness for future success, and opposes outcomes-based funding. Fact Sheet

Keep Public Dollars in Public Schools Advocate against diverting public dollars from public schools. All recipients of public dollars should be subject to the same state assessments, accountability, and parental rights. Fact Sheet

• Reform Student Assessment Support a simplified and improved student performance system with testing alternatives for qualifying students and oppose high-stakes, single-day testing.
  
• Manage Phones at School Support limiting cell phone use during instructional time while allowing local control over the development of additional policies.
• Expand Mental Health Support Support the expansion of school mental health programs, improved data collection and accessibility, strengthened telehealth services, and increased mental health awareness.
  
• Address Overdose on Campus Support legislation that addresses drug overdoses on campuses.
  
• Regulate Vaping Support flavor bans, regulations on sales, and a tax on e-cigarette products.
• Increase Special Education Resources Support increased special education funding and resources for families.

• Prevent Child & Youth Trafficking Track legislation that promotes awareness, educates children and families on trafficking risks and signs, and expands prevention programs.
• Reduce Distracted Driving Track stricter distracted driving legislation to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes affecting children.
• Move Tax-Free Weekend Track opportunities to move the Texas tax-free weekend earlier to better align with the majority of school start dates.
• Provide Medically Accurate Sex Education with Parental Opt-Out Track the inclusion of medically accurate information about sex education in 8th grade and higher, and the option for parents to opt-out if they prefer their student not receive that education.

Bill Tracker

A Look Back at Texas PTA's Legislative Priorities

• The 88th Legislative Session: View a summary of Texas PTA's legislative work in the 88th Session in English | Espanol.
• The 87th Legislative Session: View a summary of Texas PTA's legislative work in the 87th Session here.
• The 86th Legislative Session: View a summary of Texas PTA's legislative work in the 86th Session here.