Legislature

The 86th Texas Legislature

Begins: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019
Ends: Monday, May 27, 2019
 

The Texas Constitution mandates that the Legislature meet biennially -- every two years -- for a 140-day session. Thousands of bills are filed with only a handful making their way through the process to become law. The only bill required to come out of the session is the biennial budget, which includes state funding for public education.

Spring Branch ISD Trustees make frequent trips to the Capitol both before and during a session to share SBISD priorities with key lawmakers and their staffs. Our community is encouraged to stay current and active with area legislators.

SBISD and Robin Hood

Considered a "property-wealthy" district by the state of Texas, Spring Branch ISD's general fund tax revenue is subject to "recapture" as part of the school finance system known as "Robin Hood." Recaptured money goes into the state's general fund where it supplants the state's contribution to public education, allowing the state to spend elsewhere what should be education dollars.
 
SBISD's recapture has increased by more than 1,600 percent since 2009 and continues to climb. The district this year will send $88 million in recapture to the state while receiving only $22 million -- that's four times as much to the state as SBISD gets in return.
 
Read Superintendent Scott Muri's letter explaining the situation to SBISD taxpayers.
 

SBISD Legislative Priorities

Priorities for the 86th Legislature were adopted by the Board of Trustees on Sept. 24, 2018, and fall under five broad issues:
 
  • School Finance
  • School Safety
  • Local Control
  • Accountability and Assessment
  • Pre-Kindergarten

Legislative Priorities for the 86th Session of the Texas Legislature >>

Archive
Guiding Principles for the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature >>

 

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