TX Senate unanimously approves Teacher Bill of Rights Package with pay increase

On Wednesday, the Texas Senate unanimously approved the first measure in a proposed Teacher Bill of Rights package to increase their pay. Senate Bill 26, introduced by Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican from Conroe, designates nearly $5 billion for salary increases for public school teachers. In addition to pay raises, the bill includes incentives for additional earnings, legal protections, and other benefits.

This legislative initiative is a priority for both Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. “This is a historic investment in our educators, amounting to nearly $5 billion,” Creighton stated. “No other state has made a financial commitment of this scale to teacher salaries. If we want to attract and keep the best educators for our students, Texas must become the most appealing state for teaching.”

Just the News reports that the primary objective of the bill is to establish a permanent funding structure to ensure consistent salary increases. The pay raises will be determined based on the size of the school district and a teacher’s years of experience.

For teachers in suburban and urban districts with more than 5,000 students, those with three to four years of experience would receive an annual $2,500 salary increase, while those with five or more years would get an additional $5,500 each year.

Teachers in rural districts with 5,000 or fewer students would see larger raises: those with three to four years of experience would receive an additional $5,000 annually, while those with five or more years would get a $10,000 yearly increase.

According to the bill, nearly 80% of Texas teachers qualify for a permanent pay raise under the state’s school finance structure. Additionally, the measure allows public school teachers to enroll their children in their school’s pre-K program at no cost, provided the program is available.

Another key component of the bill is the expansion of the Teacher Incentive Allotment, which aims to create more opportunities for highly effective educators to earn salaries exceeding $100,000 per year. The proposal also includes a new liability protection program for teachers.

“Educators should never have to choose between maintaining order in their classrooms and protecting themselves from potential legal issues,” Creighton emphasized. “With this funding for liability protection, teachers will have the support they need to enforce discipline and focus on their core mission—teaching.”

Since Governor Abbott designated teacher compensation as an emergency legislative item, the Senate was able to debate the bill early. It received unanimous approval on Wednesday.

As part of the broader Teacher Bill of Rights package, Creighton intends to introduce additional legislation addressing issues such as classroom safety, discipline policies, teacher contract protections, and the development of a residency program to pair new teachers with seasoned mentors.

“The foundation of Texas’ future is built in our classrooms,” Creighton remarked. “We have a responsibility to our educators—and the students they teach—to set aside politics and implement meaningful, lasting reforms. This session, we will pass the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights and make Texas the premier state for educators.”