The Texas Senate released a second set of interim charges Tuesday, adding to the list released earlier this year. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) made the following statement concerning the release of the charges:“When I issued my first round of interim charges, I indicated there may be a second list to come later. Interim charges are based on issues the 31 Senators suggest for possible interim hearings. You can read the second list below. Following completion of hearings, committees will submit reports with their specific findings and policy recommendations before December 1, 2024. 

“At the beginning of the 89th Legislative Session in January 2025, the Senate will hit the ground running to ensure the priorities of the conservative majority of Texans are accomplished, including school choice, continued property tax relief, and strengthening our power grid.” 

The Senate Education Committee received the following new interim charges: 

• Improving K12-College Pathways: Review the availability of Advanced Placement and dual credit course offerings in high schools and examine the transfer requirements required for students to receive higher education course credit. Identify the current challenges to streamlining the transfer process, including adequate counseling for high school students. Make recommendations to ensure students receive credit for successful completion of these courses.  
• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education passed by the 88th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of parent-approved health education. 

Additionally, the Senate Finance Committee received the following charge regarding education policy: 

• School Enrollment Trends: Study post-pandemic student enrollment trends, and examine the possible causes behind the shift in student enrollment, including the rise in homeschooling, micro-schools, and other parental choice options. Make recommendations to ensure parents and educators have the tools and resources needed to respond to the projected enrollment changes and ensure that every child has the best educational options available to learn. 

Noticeably absent from both sets of charges is a charge directly relating to vouchers, a topic cited in the lieutenant governor’s statement as being one the Senate will address quickly once it reconvenes. This is likely because Patrick feels the Senate already has the information it needs to create and move legislation on this issue. The House did include a discussion on vouchers during the first day of its two-day interim hearings in August.  

These charges will be added to the initial charges released last April by the lieutenant governor. ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield wrote a post detailing those charges, available here. The Senate will hold additional hearings this fall to address the interim charges and will release committee reports detailing its findings. It is important to note that while these charges do not necessarily translate to legislation when the 89th Legislature convenes session next January, they often give the public an idea about what topics are on the mind of legislators heading into session.   

The Senate Education Committee will meet next week on Sept. 18 to discuss interim charges. It is unclear which charges the committee will address, if the new charges will be included, or if this will be the committee’s only interim hearing. The Senate Finance Committee has also posted a hearing for Oct. 9 to discuss its new charge on school enrollment trends. The committee’s previous hearing briefly touched on the elimination of school property taxes.