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Easy Come, Easy Go: The Legislative Session that Just Won’t End

This week we said “goodbye” to the 88th regular session … and then, just a few hours later, said “hello” to the first special session of the 88th Legislature. In this week’s Hotline, we recap the end of the regular session, provide an update on the first (of “several”) special sessions, and start to unpack what all this turmoil means...

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This Week in the Legislature: What Didn’t Happen?

Apart from all of the attention directed at private school vouchers at the Legislature this week, several other bills that would significantly affect Texas public school educators and higher education employees are still making their way through the legislative process. Public Education: In Committee This week, the House Public Education...

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Texas AFT Local Unions Win Big in School Board Races

This spring, several of Texas AFT’s local unions have run extensive campaigns on behalf of endorsed candidates for their district school boards. On Saturday, May 6, their hard work paid off, with a series of sweeping wins for educator-endorsed candidates.  As the legislative session comes to a close, these victories...

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In Memoriam: The Bills We Lost This Week

Throughout the 88th Texas legislative session, thousands of bills are filed in hopes of making it out of committee and on to the floor, with the overall goal of reaching the governor’s desk and being signed into law.  With leadership establishing a set agenda of bills that are of priority...

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May 5, 2023: Where’s the REAL Teacher Appreciation?

Friday, May 5, 2023 How to ‘Appreciate’ Educators Sen. Roland Gutierrez and Sen. Morgan LaMantia meet with Texas AFT members and leaders at the Capitol on Monday. Photo by Sierra Wiggers. While many of their colleagues were struggling through STAAR testing with anxious students, 30 Texas teachers and school employees...

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April 28, 2023: COLA

Friday, April 28, 2023 Crumbs Aren’t Good Enough Photo by Marianna Krueger, CCR Studios The state of Texas has a budget surplus that is itself larger than the entire budget of 24 states, and yet both active school employees and retired educators have been forced this session to come, hat...

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House Passes COLA Plan, Falls Short of Retiree Needs

Texas AFT Retiree Plus member Lydia Carillo-Valdez shares her experiences at a press conference Monday with other retired educators, as well as Rep. John Bryant, Rep. Mihaela Plesa, and Texas AFT Secretary-Treasurer Ray McMurrey. With a surplus that is itself larger than the entire budgets of 24 states, the state...

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