As House takes hit, Leo Wilson addresses session

AUSTIN – On the heels of House members voting themselves an extended weekend for the sixth time this session, the body has come under some fire. 

The Texas House meets every other year for 140 days in regular session to handle the business of the state. Thus far, in this legislative session, things have appeared to operate at a snail's pace, raising concerns from some members and discussing rules in the chamber. 

"Respectfully. What the Hell are we doing? Another long vacation week. We have been here 35 days, a full quarter of our session is over, and we have taken a long vacation weekend of four, five or six days every, single week since we have been here," said District 10 Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Waxahachie. 

Harrison has led the fight to remain at work on the house floor, raising objections each week as lawmakers have voted to take extended weekends. 

Some have suggested that the Texas Constitution, along with committee assignments and other issues, have slowed the process, which Harrison fired back against last Wednesday on the House floor. 

"Well, guys, every single one of those excuses is now off the table. We have no excuse anymore," Harrison said. 

District 23 Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, who represents Chambers County, has voted for at least the last two extended weekends, defended the slow process, citing House rules and procedures for the delay in a statement from her office. 

"I share the frustration many feel with the slow pace of the process, but we are obligated to work within the bounds of the Texas Constitution and House Rules. I am all for holding the House accountable for the right reasons, but I was elected to pass conservative legislation. That means time spent writing, amending, and meeting with legislators to get my bills passed. That doesn't happen in a vacuum on the floor," Leo Wilson said. 

According to Leo Wilson, the rules of the House are stricter than those governing the Senate, with the lower chamber only able to hear bills after the first 30 days of the start of the session, which passed several days before the most recent vacation break. 

The House was also delayed by committee assignments, which were only done on Feb. 12. 

Under current House rules, only the Governor's priority bills can be heard in committee until March 15, according to a press release from Leo Wilson's office. 

With committees assigned, the House has begun to look at priority legislation, and the House Public Education Committee (HPEC), Leo Wilson's assigned committee, introduced a package entailing House bills regarding education. 

House Bill 100, led by Leo Wilson, focuses on instructional materials in public schools. The bill would require instructional material to be approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE), which includes 100% of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). 

"If our kids are being tested on knowing 100% of the TEKS for their grade level, then we must ensure that teachers are using instructional materials that will contain 100% of the TEKS," Leo Wilson said.  

House Bill 2, authored by HPEC Chairman Brad Buckley, proposes that $8 billion should be invested in public education. 

The bill proposes an additional $220 per student be put towards basic allotment, totaling over $3.2 billion; about $1.1 billion to go towards supporting smaller districts; $1.8 billion designated for special education services; about $1.5 billion for expanding Pre-K, fine arts, high school career advising and reducing achievement gaps; about $750 million for teacher salaries; and $450 million to enhance teacher development programs. 

House Bill 3, also introduced by Buckley, proposes a $1 billion Education Savings Account (ESA) program administered by the Texas Comptroller's Office. 

This program would allow families to utilize state funds for various expenses, such as private school tuition, homeschooling materials, dual-credit courses, industry-based certification training and more. 

Applications for the ESA program would prioritize students with disabilities, special learning needs and low-income households. If passed, students could receive up to $10,000 annually and homeschooled students could receive up to $2,000. 

House Bills 2 and 3 encompass a two-step proposal to fund public education and support parental choice, according to a press release from Leo Wilson's office.