AUSTIN – Today, the Texas House and Texas Senate reached an agreement on House Bill 2.
 
Highlights of the House and Senate’s consensus on HB 2 include:
 

• $8.5 billion in new funding, the largest single increase in public education funding in Texas history
• $4.2 billion for record permanent teacher and staff pay raises
• Expanded incentive pay and teacher training programs
• $1.3 billion in Allotment for Basic Costs (ABC) to assist districts with expenses like insurance, utilities, and TRS contributions
• Nearly $2 billion to update special education formulas and fund full-day pre-K, early learning interventions, and Career & Technical Education (CTE)
• $430 million for school safety

 
Upon reaching an agreement, House and Senate leaders issued the following statements:

“We have been working diligently with the House in countless meetings and thoughtful discussions throughout the session to create the most effective school finance bill in Texas history,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. “House Bill 2 targets specific needs that will help create the best education system in America. I am proud of the work that members in both chambers, and both parties, have done. My priority has always been to pay teachers as professionals and focus on student outcomes over the 1,200 districts across Texas.”

“We are proud to announce that House and Senate leaders have agreed upon a public education investment that will direct record new funding where it will make the biggest difference in the lives of students and teachers,” said Speaker Dustin Burrows. “The amended legislation reflects constructive input from both chambers and parties, and a shared commitment to delivering historic school funding and teacher pay raises this session. We’re grateful for the tireless work and collaboration of those who contributed to these negotiations and look forward to the Senate advancing the House’s top priority across the finish line—delivering a landmark win for Texas students, educators, and families later today.”

“House Bill 2 delivers a bold, student-centered plan with targeted investments for all 1,200 Texas school districts. This historic funding focuses on what works: better-supported teachers, safer schools, and greater opportunities for every student to succeed,” said Senate K-16 Education Chair Brandon Creighton. “The majority of these funds go straight to the classroom — not bureaucracy — ensuring student success drives every decision. HB 2 also strengthens school operations and provides districts with the resources they need to balance their budgets in the long term. The plan reflects our Texas values: empowering educators, investing in students, and securing the future of our state’s economy.”

“It is a historic day in our great state as we make the largest investment in public schools in the history of Texas,” said House Public Education Chair Brad Buckley and author of HB 2. “HB 2 delivers an additional $8.5 billion to the area that matters the most – the classroom. This legislation provides the largest teacher pay raise in history, targeted funding for our special education students, investments in early childhood learning, and additional funding for our schools to address the rising fixed costs of operation. I want to thank Speaker Burrows, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Senator Creighton, and my colleagues for a thoughtful and collaborative process in bringing us to this moment.” 

“The path to finding the best solution for funding Texas’ public school system this session has taken many long hours,” said Sen. Royce West. “But I think, with HB 2, substantial funding will be provided that will give teachers much deserved raises, as well as providing a separate allotment that will increase pay for auxiliary and support staff and offset the costs associated with insurance for school properties, retirement and other benefits, transportation, gas costs, etc.”

“To date, House Bill 2 is the largest investment that the Texas Legislature has made into public school funding, especially for our students in special education,” said Sen. José Menéndez. “It is imperative we offer necessary support for our neighborhood schools and give our teachers and support staff much needed pay increases.”

“This agreement represents a historic breakthrough for rural Texas — for far too long, small and mid-size districts have been asked to do more with less, and HB 2 directly responds to those challenges,” said Rep. Trent Ashby. “HB 2 will deliver permanent, meaningful pay raises for rural teachers and school support staff, alleviate cost drivers for smaller districts that often face the tightest margins and highest costs, and invest in the long-term success of our students. This bill will put rural Texas schools on stronger footing than ever before, and I look forward to getting it across the finish line and signed into law.” 

“If the Legislature were to pass just one of the major components in HB 2 — be it record-setting teacher pay raises, full-day pre-K, or a long-overdue overhaul of special education — that would be a transformative victory in its own right,” said Rep. Diego Bernal. “But HB 2 delivers all of these reforms and more, and when taken together, they represent a truly landmark achievement for Texas public education. HB 2 is a direct response to the priorities that educators, school districts, and advocates have championed for years, and it will translate into meaningful, measurable improvements in classrooms across our state. I’m proud to support an investment of this scale and substance and look forward to HB 2 becoming law.”