Texas House Bill HB 1546

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 12/9/24

Caption

Relating to the reimbursement of fees associated with the issuance of a special education certificate for certain teachers.

Summary

HB 1546 would require the State Board of Education-related certification authority to reimburse an educator for all fees tied to obtaining a special education teaching certificate, including any examination administration fee, if the educator earns the certificate within two years of entering an educator preparation program. In practical terms, the bill creates a financial incentive for new teachers to complete special education certification quickly and reduces the out-of-pocket cost of entering the special education workforce. The reimbursement applies only to people who successfully obtain the certificate by the second anniversary of starting their preparation program, and the bill takes effect September 1, 2025. The measure is narrowly focused on special education certification and does not change the certification requirements themselves; instead, it shifts the cost burden from individual teachers to the state certification system.

Impact

HB 1546 would amend the Texas Education Code by adding a new Section 21.04894 to Chapter 21, Subchapter B. The new section would require reimbursement of certification-related fees for qualifying special education candidates, including fees for the certificate and any exam fee assessed under Section 21.048. The bill would affect teacher candidates, educator preparation programs, and the state agency or board responsible for issuing certificates and collecting fees, while potentially increasing state administrative and fiscal obligations associated with fee reimbursement.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill was introduced as a supportive measure for special education staffing and teacher recruitment, with no recorded opposition in the provided committee materials or vote history. Because there are no transcripts or votes included, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as generally favorable or at least noncontroversial at this stage of the legislative process. Its referral to the Public Education committee indicates it was being considered in the normal course of education policy review.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if the bill were discussed further, could include the cost to the state of reimbursing certification fees, whether the two-year completion deadline is too strict or too lenient, and whether the reimbursement should be limited to special education certification rather than extended to other shortage areas. However, none of those concerns are attributed to any legislator, witness, or stakeholder in the supplied record.