All Roll Calls
Yes: 633 • No: 12
TexasHB 12089th Legislature Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to college, career, and military readiness in public schools, including career and technology education programs, the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program, and the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program, funding for those programs under the Foundation School Program, and workforce reporting to support those programs, to the public school accountability system, and to the new instructional facility allotment and the permissible uses of funding under the Foundation School Program.
Sponsored By: Trent Ashby, Keith Bell, Brad Buckley, Angie Chen Button, Gary Gates, Charles Schwertner (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Education--Primary & Secondary--Admission & AttendanceEducation--Primary & Secondary--Charter SchoolsEducation--Primary & Secondary--CurriculumEducation--Primary & Secondary--FacilitiesEducation--Primary & Secondary--FinanceEducation--Primary & Secondary--Other School PersonnelEducation--RuralEducation--School DistrictsElectronic Information SystemsLabor--Workforce DevelopmentLabor--Workforce Development--RuralMilitary & VeteransScience & TechnologyState Finances--Management & ControlFOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAMINTERNETEDUCATION AGENCY, TEXASEDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Free college courses for eligible graduates
Eligible graduates can take dual-credit courses free through P-TECH campuses or Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) districts. They must qualify under Section 28.0095(c) and continue a course of study covered by an agreement with a higher education institution. Beginning September 1, 2025, districts can also fund graduate advising during the first two years after graduation. Advising must support a certificate or degree at a public college, or completion of postsecondary vocational training. Districts can fund graduates’ dual-credit education, but do not have to offer these services.
More facility funding for school districts
Beginning September 1, 2025, the school facility allotment appropriation cap rises from $100 million to $150 million per school year. Renovated portions of school buildings can now qualify for the new instructional facility allotment. They must first be used for high-cost career and technology programs with too few students enrolled. The commissioner must determine that the programs qualify. The higher cap does not guarantee funding for any particular district.
Certification cost help for career teachers
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, teachers who pass career and technology certification exams can qualify for subsidies. Eligibility is no longer limited to cybersecurity exams. With commissioner approval, the Texas Education Agency must repay districts for qualifying exam costs they paid. Covered costs include related fingerprinting and criminal history reviews. Districts must apply in writing on the prescribed form and state the amount paid.
Families get yearly college cost guidance
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, counselors must give students and parents college and career information every high school year. Guidance covers workforce training, high school credential options, costs, and campus and district graduate outcomes. It also covers financial aid, FAFSA applications, TEXAS Grants, and waivers and vouchers for eligible former foster-care students. Counselors must include the My Texas Future website. This information does not guarantee aid, admission, or employment.
Military training students gain pathway support
Beginning September 1, 2025, qualifying Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) courses count in approved career and technology programs. Courses must earn high school credit, and programs must receive agency approval and prepare students for careers, including military careers. Districts and charter schools must notify JROTC parents about available early-registration and scholarship programs during registration and annually. Parents can choose to share specified student information with public colleges to learn about these opportunities. Notices do not guarantee a scholarship.
State-paid workforce skills tests for students
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, students can choose a state-paid workforce skills assessment. It is one option among the college or career assessments the state pays for, not an extra paid test. Students must take it in spring of grade 11 or during grade 12. The test must be nationally recognized and approved by commissioner rule.
Students can get two exam subsidies
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, eligible students can receive up to two certification exam subsidies instead of one. Beginning September 1, 2025, districts are entitled to reimbursement for subsidies covering no more than two exams per student. Districts must have paid the subsidies to receive reimbursement. The law does not require districts to pay exam costs or state a subsidy amount.
More school funding for career pathways
Beginning September 1, 2025, qualifying P-TECH and R-PEP students can count toward Foundation School Program funding. Students must be at least 5 and under 21 on September 1 and complete coursework covered by a higher education agreement. They can qualify even when another district provides the coursework. The yearly P-TECH allotment also rises from $50 to $150 per student in average daily attendance. This money goes to districts, not directly to families.
Rural districts can keep career partnerships
Districts already participating in the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership can stay regardless of their current average daily attendance. Beginning September 1, 2025, qualifying districts can receive funding for up to 110% of a fixed student-count baseline. The baseline counts qualifying students in the school year before district enrollment first reached 1,600. This funding remains subject to the program’s overall funding limit.
Schools must track graduates’ future outcomes
Texas education goals now call for graduates ready to enter work or continue education without remedial classes. District plans must set yearly goals for college, career, and military readiness and credentials earned in high school. They must use long-term student data to set goals for graduates’ enrollment, remedial classes, continued study, credentials, and wages. These goals cover outcomes one, three, and five years after graduation. A designated district or regional employee reports progress to the board, Texas Education Agency, and Legislative Budget Board. Reports must be posted at least two weeks before public board review and yearly plan approval by majority vote.
Employers face added workforce reporting rules
The law makes added employer reporting dependent on enactment of S.B. 1786 from the 2025 legislative session. The Texas Workforce Commission must work with employers to expand routine wage filings. Added details include wages, industry, occupation, full-time or part-time status, primary employment county, and remote-work status. Other required details must be needed for the workforce assessment, and reporting must follow federal law. Households have no new reporting duty.
Rural partnership grants face yearly limits
R-PEP grants for planning, developing, starting, or expanding partnerships are capped at $5 million total per school year. Up to 15% of allocated grant money can pay for administration and technical help. Grants generally go to coordinating entities with approved performance agreements, or planning agreements to enter one. If the funding source bars payment to that entity, a participating district receives the grant as fiscal agent. These limits are separate from the allotment and outcomes-bonus cap.
More rural funding with new priorities
Beginning September 1, 2025, the yearly R-PEP allotment and outcomes-bonus cap rises from $5 million to $20 million. When claims exceed available money, allotments first favor districts with qualifying multidistrict agreements made before May 1, 2023. Next come performance agreements coordinated by higher education institutions, then districts with the highest shares of educationally disadvantaged students. Outcomes bonuses favor districts with the highest shares of educationally disadvantaged students. These priorities can leave other eligible districts with less access to limited funding.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Trent Ashby
House
Keith Bell
House
Brad Buckley
House
Angie Chen Button
House
Gary Gates
House
Charles Schwertner
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
David Cook
House
Aicha Davis
House
Mano DeAyala
House
Caroline Fairly
House
James Frank
House
R.D. "Bobby" Guerra
House
Ryan Guillen
House
Brent Hagenbuch
Republican • Senate
Hancock
Affiliation unavailable
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Democratic • Senate
Carrie Isaac
House
Janie Lopez
House
Ray Lopez
House
Penny Morales Shaw
House
Angelia Orr
House
Richard Peña Raymond
House
David Spiller
House
Steve Toth
House
Royce West
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/28/2025
Record vote
Yes: 116 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/25/2025
Record vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/25/2025
Record vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0
House vote • 4/16/2025
Record vote
Yes: 144 • No: 1
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 143 • No: 1
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 142 • No: 4
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Public Education
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Education K-16
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
See remarks for effective date
6/20/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/1/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
6/1/2025SenateSigned in the House
5/31/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/30/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
5/28/2025SenateText of Senate Amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/28/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#4010)
5/28/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseSenate Amendments Analysis distributed
5/28/2025HouseSenate Amendments distributed
5/28/2025HouseSenate passage as amended reported
5/26/2025HouseRecord vote
5/25/2025SenatePassed
5/25/2025SenateRead 3rd time
5/25/2025SenateRecord vote
5/25/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
5/25/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
5/25/2025SenatePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/25/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
5/25/2025SenateAmended
5/25/2025SenateAmendment(s) offered (FA1 Schwertner)
5/25/2025SenateRead 2nd time
5/25/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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