A new bill authored by State Rep. James Talarico in the Texas House seeks to streamline state education assessments and align them with federal standards, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Courts and State Agencies, Boards & Commissions category, introduced as HB 221 during the 89(1) legislative session on Tuesday, July 29, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission and the redistricting of the districts used to elect members of the United States House of Representatives, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Texas Education Code to reduce state-required assessment instruments and prioritize compliance with the Every Student Succeeds Act. It eliminates the requirement for school districts to provide supplemental instruction in more than two subjects per year, focusing on mathematics and reading. The bill stipulates annual assessments in math and reading for grades three through eight, and science in grades five and eight, and limits end-of-course assessments to the minimum federally required subjects. Additionally, it allows students who meet Texas Success Initiative benchmarks in preparatory courses to bypass certain end-of-course assessments. It also repeals Section 39.023(c-9) and awards distinction for outstanding academic achievement in reading, mathematics, or science. The provisions apply beginning with the 2025-26 school year or upon immediate effect if passed by a two-thirds majority.
James Talarico, the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education and the vice chair of the House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on House Administration and a member of the House Committee on Public Education.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5423 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to an annual report published by the Texas Education Agency regarding public school campus closures |
| HB 5404 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to overtime compensation for certain state employees |
| HB 5384 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a classroom teacher’s right to appeal to the commissioner of education regarding the teacher’s designation under a local optional teacher designation system |
| HB 5367 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to campaign contribution limits for certain offices |
| HB 5328 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the installation of advanced x-ray inspection technology systems at certain Texas-Mexico border crossings |
| HB 5326 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to family and medical leave |
| HB 5324 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to driver’s license office appointments |
| HB 5321 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to employment leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking |
| HB 5316 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission and the redistricting of the districts used to elect members of the United States House of Representatives, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education |
| HB 5315 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to repealing certain restrictions and prohibitions regarding labor unions |
| HB 5313 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the reporting of loan agreements made for campaign or officeholder purposes by a person or political committee |
| HB 5311 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to establishing the Texas Care Plan Medicaid buy-in program to provide health benefit plan coverage to certain persons in this state |
| HB 5310 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the repeal of certain laws regulating abortion and the construction of abortion statutes |
| HB 5309 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the local 9-1-1 response fund and grant program |
| HB 5307 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and the local regulation of cannabis establishments; providing for expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax |
| HB 5306 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment and the creation of a mental and behavioral health allotment under the Foundation School Program |
| HB 5304 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to campaign contribution limits for certain offices |
| HB 5299 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Texas Promise Grant Program for certain students at two-year public institutions of higher education |
| HB 5298 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to restrictions on certain contributions and lobbyist compensation by persons appointed to public office by the governor; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 5297 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the minimum wage |
| HB 5296 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the salary and wages paid to public school employees |
| HB 5148 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to municipal regulation of stairway requirements in certain multifamily residential buildings |
| HB 5146 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to certain requirements regarding the subsidized child-care program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission |
| HB 5025 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the carrying of certain weapons on the premises of a public library; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 3921 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of aggravated sexual assault committed by a member of the clergy |
| HB 3792 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the identification, use, and taxation of surplus state property suitable for the development of affordable housing |
| HB 3173 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to certain planning, notification, and evaluation requirements with respect to certain workforce development programs in this state |
| HB 2980 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the reporting of a controlled substance overdose occurring on the campus of a public school |
| HB 2968 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to single-family homes held by corporate owners for rental purposes; requiring information by and registration of certain corporate owners; authorizing a fee and civil penalty |
| HB 2795 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to criminal offenses for creating and distributing certain misleading images and videos; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 2491 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the use of certain algorithmic devices in the determination of residential rental prices |
| HB 2489 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Office of Youth Health and Safety |
| HB 2480 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to municipal and county regulation of accessory dwelling units; authorizing fees |
| HB 2478 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the reporting of certain information regarding medically necessary debt on a consumer report |
| HB 1464 | 11/25/2024 | Relating to a prescription drug purchasing pool for certain health benefit plan issuers and employers |
| HB 1408 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the participation of community-based organizations in workforce training programs funded by the skills development fund |
| HB 1396 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders under certain governmental health benefit plans |
| HB 350 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the use of glucagon medication on certain public and private school campuses |
| HB 347 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the prosecution of the offense of invasive visual recording in a lactation room |
| HB 308 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a suit for dissolution of a marriage and associated suit affecting the parent-child relationship when a party is pregnant |
| HB 277 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the measures to encourage eligible students to claim certain tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for students who are or have been in foster or other residential care |
| HB 253 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of testing equipment that identifies the presence of a substance listed in Penalty Group 1-B |
| HB 222 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program |
| HB 172 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to creating a fine arts allotment under the public school finance system |
| HB 1035 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the contents of an affidavit required to be included with an application for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility |
