The Texas House Select Committee on Public School Finance is continuing its work reviewing and amending H.B. 1, the legislation introduced to deal with public education reform and school financing. The Committee has met over the last week and a half to discuss issues including educator incentive programs, facilities funding, statewide taxation, and revenue measures.

Like many other education groups, the Texas Library Association has provided both written and oral testimony regarding the need to support all types of educators, increase the state's investment in schools, and allow local communities to maintain the necessary mechanisms to continue funding needed public services.

Many elements of the bill remain controversial, and Committee members have proposed dozens of amendments. The Texas Library Association has proposed measures to insure that school library interests are included in the relevant portions of the bill. At this time, the Committee is studying potential changes to the bill, including various proposals on sales tax and property tax revenue plans. While there seems to be consensus on some areas of the bill, much is still open for debate.

Media reports speculated that the bill would be voted out of the Committee by the end of the week and would then be sent to the House Floor for debate and a vote. The Committee is scheduled to meet on Saturday, and the entire House will convene on Monday. The Committee may attempt to finalize its version of the bill for the Monday gathering of the full House.

Once the House passes a version of the bill, the Senate will then begin studying the bill and will have the opportunity to make its own changes and add its own proposals. The full Senate will then vote on the measure, and the final bill will then need to be reconciled with the House bill in a conference committee.

Additional information about the Committee and proposed amendment to H.B. 1 can be found on the State's website for public school finance issues at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/psf/. You can also find contact information for your local state representative and senator from the State website.