Texas Catholic Voice September 2025

I hope you and your family have enjoyed the Labor Day weekend as a well-earned rest from the flurry of the back-to-school season. The TCCB has been hard at work monitoring the Texas Legislature's second special session and the recently published Education Savings Accounts (ESA) Rules.  

The Rules were published in the Texas Register, but are only temporary and not finalized. The comment period where the public can submit thoughts and suggestions will conclude on Sept. 21. Learn more on the Texas Comptroller’s ESA webpage here: Texas Education Savings Account Program.   

Governor Greg Abbott convened a second special session for another 30 days due to the lack of quorum in the House during the first called special session. Even though the House lacked momentum, the Senate has made quiet but rapid progress advancing bills.  

The TCCB continues to support Sen. Tan Parker’s SB 11 which relates to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution.  This bill passed the House on Aug. 26. We are also supporting HB 8 by Rep. Brad Buckley, to eliminate STAAR testing and replacing the test with more effective student assessments. This bill has been placed on the Senate Intent Calendar.  

Even as the second special session draws to a close, we are supporting HB 308 by Rep. Jared Patterson, which was filed late in the session. This bill would increase protections for daycares and schools when a person demonstrates threatening or harassing conduct on public property adjacent to a school or daycare property. Currently, law enforcement cannot arrest a person who is harassing students if the person is standing on public property, like a city sidewalk. Please join us in prayer that these bills pass before the end of the special session. 

When HB 7 and SB 7 were filed the bishops had significant concerns that, as filed, the bill would risk threatening women into silence and subjecting them to potentially invasive surveillance by self-deputized vigilantes bent on extracting revenge from women who have already experienced too much suffering. We worked closely with the Speaker’s office, the House State Affairs Committee, Rep. Jeff Leach, and Sen. Bryan Hughes to correct the bill with stronger protections. After the changes were made in a committee sub, the bishops changed their position from opposition to support. 

We will continue to monitor all relevant legislation for amendments and progress as this second special session advances.