The House Public Education committee, led by Chairman Brad Buckley (R-Salado) will take invited and public testimony on the implementation of the 89th Legislature’s signature school-finance law and on what is — and isn’t — working to keep classrooms staffed.
When: 10:00 AM, Monday, June 1, 2026
Where: Room JHR 140, John H. Reagan Building, Austin
Chair: Rep. Brad Buckley, R–Salado (HD-54)
Vice Chair: Rep. Diego Bernal, D–San Antonio (HD-123)
Format: Invited and public testimony; length of public testimony subject to the chair’s discretion; electronic public comment accepted on all three charges
Live video: house.texas.gov/video-audio/
Submit comments online: comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c400
The Texas House Committee on Public Education will gavel in at 10 a.m. Monday for its next interim hearing, opening a multi-charge review of the 89th Legislature’s signature school-finance package and turning to broader workforce questions, as well. Members will take invited and public testimony, with the chair controlling the length of public comment.
Chaired by Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, and vice-chaired by Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, the 15-member panel is working from interim charges issued ahead of the 90th Legislature, which convenes in January 2027. The hearing is the next legislative look at how the Texas Education Agency and school districts are implementing House Bill 2 — the 2025 omnibus public-education and school-finance law.
The first charge, Monitoring, directs members to track the implementation and associated rulemaking of legislation the committee handled during the 89th Legislature, with HB 2 singled out for review. Electronic public comment is open on the HB 2 implementation item, and the committee will likely hear from TEA leadership about per-pupil funding flows, allotment changes and rule-making timelines.
The second charge, Teacher Recruitment and Retention, asks the committee to weigh whether recent investments in educator preparation, compensation increases, classroom supports and the state’s reformed student-discipline policy are translating into hiring and retention gains at the district level. Members are to recommend ways to strengthen the teacher pipeline.
The third charge, Investment in Special Education, turns to state policies affecting students with special needs, including the impact of recent funding increases, multi-year trends in special-education enrollment, and supports for students with low-incidence disabilities.
Members are asked to identify ways to improve efficiencies for special-education teachers, expand Pre-K access and strengthen the transition planning that connects students to workforce and adulthood.
Because the meeting is an interim hearing, the committee will gather information and may issue findings rather than advance bills; any resulting legislation would not be filed until the 90th Legislature convenes next year.
Committee members
- Rep. Brad Buckley, R–Salado (HD-54) — Chair
- Rep. Diego Bernal, D–San Antonio (HD-123) — Vice Chair
- Rep. Alma Allen, D–Houston (HD-131)
- Rep. Trent Ashby, R–Lufkin (HD-9)
- Rep. John Bryant, D–Dallas (HD-114)
- Rep. Charles Cunningham, R–Kingwood (HD-127)
- Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr., D–Houston (HD-142)
- Rep. James B. Frank, R–Wichita Falls (HD-69)
- Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D–Austin (HD-49)
- Rep. Todd Hunter, R–Corpus Christi (HD-32)
- Rep. Helen Kerwin, R–Glen Rose (HD-58)
- Rep. Jeff Leach, R–Plano (HD-67)
- Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson, R–Galveston (HD-23)
- Rep. Alan Schoolcraft, R–McQueeney (HD-44)
- Rep. James Talarico, D–Austin (HD-50)