QUICK SUMMARY
Texas lawmakers concluded their 140-day legislative session, passing significant bills on private school vouchers and school funding while failing to limit abortion pills and restrict transgender bathroom use. Governor Abbott plans to sign the approved funding for public schools, which allocates $8.5 billion. Other controversial measures include requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and banning THC.
Texas lawmakers concluded their 140-day legislative session by passing important measures, including a $8.5 billion funding package for public school initiatives. House Bill 2, which focuses on teacher salaries and special education, awaits Governor Abbott's signature. Despite this, measures to restrict abortion medications and limit transgender bathroom access failed to pass. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick played a pivotal role in directing the session’s agenda, showcasing his influence over new House Speaker Dustin Burrows. In addition to the school funding, lawmakers enacted a private school voucher program, offering families approximately $10,000 per child. They also mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and reversed a 2019 law legalizing THC, significantly impacting the hemp industry. Lawmakers allocated $3.35 billion for border security and required collaboration with ICE. These legislative outcomes reflect Texas's ongoing shift to the right and their implications for various communities across the state.