Texas
School choice, teacher pay and property tax relief found in Texas budget proposals this session
AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) — Texas lawmakers laid out their budget plans this week, including school choice, teacher raises, and property tax relief.
The fight to pass school choice legislation in Austin is heating up-not from lawmakers passing a bill but from what was in the budget proposals.
Both the House and Senate rolled out their plans this week. Each wants to give $1 billion taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers.
That’s twice as much as the failed proposal two years ago. Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said that after pro-school choice lawmakers won the election, lawmakers could try to add more students.
“I think the only question now is what form that school choice legislation takes in terms of how expansive it is,” Jones said.
There’s money for public schools, too. In fact, teachers could get raises.
The Senate proposal would give most teachers a $4,000 raise, and rural educators would receive a $10,000 raise.
These are raises teachers missed out on two years ago.
“(Raises) that got caught up in the school choice debate and never passed because the governor linked it to passing school choice legislation,” Jones explained.
The proposals also include $3.5 billion for property tax relief. Jones said lawmakers would either increase the homestead exemption or send money to districts to decrease school taxes.
The budget item might not help renters.
“The only way to help renters, in theory, is giving property tax relief to apartment owners who, in theory, if they felt so inclined, would pass it on to the renters,” Jones said.
The budget proposals for over $330 billion aren’t a done deal. Lawmakers have until June.
“Compared to past sessions, the House and the Senate are a little closer in terms of their priorities,” Jones explained.
This means items like school choice, teacher raises, and property tax cuts could be coming to this session.
For updates on this story, follow Nick Natario on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2025 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
Watch CBS News
-
New Hampshire2 minutes agoPortsmouth Pride 2026 is a protest and a celebration
-
New Jersey5 minutes agoHistorical marker recognizing Lawnside, New Jersey, to be unveiled Friday
-
New Mexico10 minutes agoEight Black New Mexican artists explore the concept of land through art
-
North Carolina17 minutes ago
NC ranks 9th nationally in business using AI
-
North Dakota20 minutes agoA hero’s return for WWII POW Irvin Ellingson
-
Ohio25 minutes agoLicking County real estate transfers for June 1-5, 2026, hit $865,000
-
Oklahoma32 minutes agoMost Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election
-
Oregon35 minutes ago
Oregon Lottery Pick 4 results for June 18
