March 5, 2019 Austin (House Bill 3 Flyer) - State Representative Chris Paddie (R-Marshall) today joined Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty, and Members of the Texas House of Representatives, to announce the filing of House Bill 3. The “Texas Plan” is a meaningful and comprehensive plan to reform school finance.
In sessions past, unnecessary partisanship has prevented the Legislature from accomplishing meaningful school finance reform, making it all the more significant that in today's press conference members from both parties are uniting behind House Bill 3.
"The need for school finance reform, including meaningful property tax reform, has been the top issue that I hear from constituents across the district. I am proud to sign my name to legislation that will honor the promises made to our educators and students to finally give them the resources they deserve. This plan will meet the classroom needs of today's students and tomorrow's workforce," said Rep. Paddie.
This funding adds significant resources to school districts while providing them the discretion to deploy resources where they are needed most. The Texas Plan empowers local school districts to put more money into classrooms by raising the amount of per-student funding from $5,140 to $6,030, an $890 increase per student.
"Teachers work for their local school district, not the Legislature in Austin. This is why I fully support the House's plan to give local school districts the discretion they deserve. I trust our local schools to reward teachers in a meaningful way."
Rather than focusing on how much is being invested in districts and the education system as a whole, House Bill 3 focuses on how much we are investing in classrooms. The Texas Plan also provides school districts the ability to access an additional $140 million to recruit and retain quality teachers through their own local performance designation system.
More About Texas House Bill 3:
- Fundamentally transforms the entire school finance system to accelerate student achievement, prioritize teacher quality, and make more dollars available for the classroom;
- Invests in students and teachers by adding $9 billion in funding above enrollment growth and current law entitlement over the next two years;
- Provides property tax reform by lowering school property tax rates by 4 cents statewide and reduces recapture payments by more than 38% this biennium.
"I look forward to working with my fellow members in the House and Senate to achieve meaningful reform. We all work for our constituents and the time is now to give our teachers and students what they need and absolutely deserve."
For more information, please visit www.thetexasplan.com
