TSHA Capitol Watch - May 16, 2023

TSHA Capitol Watch

May 16, 2023

Capitol Watch is the TSHA Legislative Team’s vehicle for keeping members informed of activity at the state capitol and in other state regulatory meetings.

If you have questions regarding this or other Capitol Watch postings, please contact a member of the TSHA Legislative Team:

• Bobbie Kay Turkett, VP for Advocacy (government@txsha.org)
• Larry Higdon, Director of Governmental Relations (lwhtsha@gmail.com)
• Mark Hanna, Legal and Legislative Counsel

The bill was heard on the House floor and passed by a 140 ayes and 1 nay. HB 1875 will now be sent to the Senate and is awaiting a committee assignment. Sen. Angela Paxton has agreed to sponsor the bill in the Senate.

There is a lack of consensus on a school choice/voucher plan. Both chambers have included funding for Governor Abbott’s “education savings account” proposal but are far apart from reaching a compromise. The House is much more divided on vouchers, so there is still time to write your representative. SB 8 (voucher bill) is being heard in the House Education Committee. Education associations have been asked to have their members contact their representatives. The Coalition for Public Schools and Raise Your Hand Texas have published a new voucher video on YouTube regarding the “voucher” issue. Please click the button below to watch the video. TSHA has opposed vouchers, especially when used in special education. The House version of SB 8 is much more restrictive regarding the eligibility of children. Governor Abbott has vowed to veto the bill unless the restrictions are lifted, and call special sessions of the Legislature, if necessary, until changes are made.

SB 9 contains pay raises for teachers and other school personnel. The pay raise issue has received bi-partisan support for inclusion in the budget. Again, there is no compromise at this point regarding how much and how dispersed. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists are not included in any of the bills. The interpretation of some education prognosticators is that we (SLPs and audiologists) are part of the “other school personnel” monies section. It does not appear that the size of the raise will approach the amounts initially proposed in Senate or House education bills.

Legislators were in general agreement that retired teachers should receive an increase in retirement funds. It has been 20 years since a cost-of-living increase had passed the legislature. There is a proposal for a one-time payment and then increases based on length of retirement and years served. The bill passed both chambers and has been sent to the Governor for his signature.

• SB 2017 by Zaffirini was introduced by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to define “over-the-counter” hearing aids and avoid conflict regarding their sale by audiologists. Bill will be heard next in the House Public Health Committee.
• HB 109 by J. Johnson prevents health care plans from denying a patient the right to purchase a hearing instrument solely because it costs more than the plan allows. Signed into law by the Governor on May 15.