Capitol Watch is the TSHA Legislative Team’s vehicle for keeping members informed of activity at the state capitol and in other state regulatory meetings.
If you have questions regarding this or other Capitol Watch postings, please contact a member of the TSHA Legislative Team:
Legislative Information
Anything you want to know about the legislative process can be found at Texas Legislature Online:
- Identify your State Senator or Representative
- Find out how to contact them (district office or capitol office)
- Bills filed and their status
- Bill content and amendments
- Bills passed or failed
- Filed Bills affecting the profession may be viewed at the link below.
TSHA Legislative Tracker
Teacher Pay Raise Legislation
Issue
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are not specifically included in the Education Code or any of the Teacher Pay Raise bills that have been filed to date. There are few legislators opposed to a teacher pay raise. The issue is “How much?” For Bill SB 7 (currently in Senate), the raise is $3,800, with other proposals for a $10,000 raise voted down. The House recommendation for a raise in HB 1 (Appropriations Bill) varies but is higher.
Take Action Now
- Email, write, and/or call your senator and representative.
- Most legislators only vaguely know who we are and what we do or what we contribute to children's learning.
- Remember that you are the communication expert. Offer your contact information to be their expert on legislation relating to communication and related disorders!
- Use your own mobile number and email address. Don’t use your school contact information. Be sure they know you are a constituent living in their district.
- If they ask a question you don’t have an answer for, ask the TSHA Legislative Team and get back to them or have them contact us.
Remember: if we don’t advocate for SLPs and AUDs to be specifically included in Teacher Pay Raise legislation no one else will. Please have colleagues and even parents contact legislators sharing our value in the education process.
What is My Ask?
- Specifically include speech-language pathologists and audiologists in any Teacher Pay Raise Bill!
- Remind them we are considered “instructional” by TEA.
- Share your “workload” and how many children are on your schedule.
- Share examples of the types of disabilities included in your workload.
- Give local example(s) without using names.
- Share how bad the shortage of SLPs and audiologists is in the schools (your district) and how a pay raise would help significantly.
- Share the need for a pay raise to aid in the retention of SLPs and audiologists.
How Do I Contact My Senator or Representative?
Please click below to visit Texas Legislature Online, identify your state senator and/or Representative, and learn how to contact them. Be sure to use your personal email address and not your school or hospital email address when contacting your state senator. Any questions? Please contact your TSHA Legislative Team.
Texas Legislature Online
Want a Faster Way to Contact Your Senator or Representative?
Please visit the Texas Legislature Directory, find your Senator and/or Representative's Twitter handle, log into your Twitter account and click the button below to automatically draft a tweet from your personal Twitter account to share TSHA's stance on Teacher Pay Raise legislation. Be sure to tag your Senator and/or Representative before sending the tweet!
Tweet My Senator
School Choice Voucher Legislation
The battle has just begun regarding parental rights and school choice legislation. The Senate narrowly passed Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick’s preference for an education savings account program, letting parents use state funds to pay for private schools. The program would give parents $8,000 per student per year that could be used to pay for private schooling and other educational expenses, including tutoring. The House passed an amendment to its budget proposal that would ban the use of state funds for school voucher programs.
Now is the right time to give your legislators the critical information that will help them make the an educated choice regarding school choice legislation. Please take the time to remind them of the added costs required to educate children with special needs and employ the team of experts (including SLPs and AUDs) necessary to educate these children. Public schools must comply with federal guidelines and private schools do not.
Interstate Compact Bill - HB 1875
The battle has just begun regarding parental rights and school choice legislation. The Senate narrowly passed Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick’s preference for an education savings account program, letting parents use state funds to pay for private schools. The program would give parents $8,000 per student per year that could be used to pay for private schooling and other educational expenses, including tutoring. The House passed an amendment to its budget proposal that would ban the use of state funds for school voucher programs.
Now is the right time to give your legislators the critical information that will help them make the an educated choice regarding school choice legislation. Please take the time to remind them of the added costs required to educate children with special needs and employ the team of experts (including SLPs and AUDs) necessary to educate these children. Public schools must comply with federal guidelines and private schools do not.
Hearing Aid Legislation
Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 109 relating to health care benefits for children and adults were heard in their respective chamber committees. HB 109 passed out of committee and has been referred to the House Consent Calendar. TSHA VP of Audiology Michelle Hsieh Pho testified in favor of SB 51. The bill would ensure that insurers cannot deny coverage for a hearing aid because the instrument costs more than their scheduled cost.