TASB Talks

Legislative Update: August 2025

Host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez and Ruben Longoria from TASB Governmental Relations for a federal update + what’s next for public education in the special session.

Legislative Update: July 2025

Dax Gonzalez and Kelly Rasti from TASB Governmental Relations join the show to preview the upcoming special legislative session.

Legislative Update: Recapping the 89th Texas Legislature

Host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez and Kelly Rasti from TASB Governmental Relations to recap the 89th Texas Legislature. They break down important bills impacting Texas public education, discuss ways trustees and advocates can stay involved in the interim, and recount their favorite moments from the session.

Legislative Update: May 2025 – Pt. 2

Legislative Update: May 2025

Matt and Dax give a quick update on House Bill 2 and other public education bills from the past week at the 89th Texas Legislature.

Legislative Update: April 2025 – Pt. 2

Matt is joined by Dax to recap Texas House debates and votes on HB 2 (school funding) and SB 2 (vouchers) + other updates from this week at the Texas Legislature.

Legislative Update: April 2025

Matt and Dax discuss the latest updates on ESA vouchers and school funding bills (SB 2 and HB 2) + budget day in the Texas House.

Legislative Update: March 2025 - Pt. 2

Matt is joined by Dax for a 'State of the Legislature' update + information about TASB Spring Workshops.

Legislative Update: March 2025

Matt and Dax discuss new public education developments from the 89th Texas Legislature, including recent hearings for House Bills 2 and 3.

Legislative Update: Feb. 2025 – Pt. 3

Matt and Dax recap a busy week at the 89th Texas Legislature and provide updates on public education bills.

Legislative Update: Feb. 2025 – Pt. 2

Matt and Dax discuss the newly announced Texas House committee assignments in this special mini episode.

Legislative Update: Feb. 2025

Matt and Dax discuss the latest news from the 89th Texas Legislature, including Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address and update on Senate Bill 2.

Legislative Update: Jan. 2025

Host Matt Mitchell is joined by Kelly Rasti, associate executive director of TASB Governmental Relations, to recap the first week of the 89th legislative session and preview what’s next.

Legislative Interim Update: Nov. 2024

Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez and Whitney Broughton from TASB Governmental Relations to recap the latest from the Texas Legislature, including recent SBOE discussions.

Getting Ready for Election Day- Oct. 2024

Recapping txEDCON24

Matt Mitchell and Dax Gonzalez recap a busy txEDCON24, including the SBAN luncheon and Delegate Assembly. Then, they discuss what other advocacy events are around the corner.

Legislative Interim Update Sept. 2024

TASB Talks returns from hiatus, as host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez, Division Director of TASB Governmental Relations. Dax provides an update on what’s been going on in the legislative interim, and what trustees can be doing in the last few months leading up to the session. He also discusses recent meetings held by the Senate Finance Committee and the State Board of Education. Finally, Dax looks ahead to what’s coming up in the next few weeks. Get TASB's Legislative Report for regula...

Strong Parent Conversations

In this episode, Kay is joined by Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield, TASB deputy executive director and Esperanza Orosco, TASB board development consultant and Hays CISD board member, to discuss building strong relationships between trustees and parents. Get practical advice and strategies to effectively engage with parents, leading to improved collaboration, trust, and educational outcomes. We also discuss TASB's new resource on the subject, " A Toolkit for Strong Parent Conversations ." The toolkit provi...

Recap of the 88th Texas Legislature

The Legislature has adjourned, but a special session is already underway. We're here to recap some of the public-education-related bills that passed during the regular session. First, we note that despite a $33 billion budget surplus, there was no increase in the basic allotment. HB 3, school safety, includes several new requirements for school districts. It does include a small per-student allotment increase and some new per-campus money. SB 10 gives retired educators a cost-of-living raise and...

TASB Talks: Lege Update May 25, 2023

"The last train out of Dodge" for vouchers this session is House Bill 100. The bill was passed in the House as a school finance bill. Earlier this week though, the Senate added a voucher program to the bill and made other changes. In its current form in the Senate, HB 100: Includes a $1.8 billion voucher/education savings account program. Increases the basic allotment by $50. Includes additional funding for charter facilities. Eradicates school district attendance zones. We discuss more on HB 10...

TASB Talks: Lege Update May 17, 2023

Kay and Dax discuss the House Public Education Committee's discussion and vote on Senate Bill 8 (vouchers and testing.) Get TASB's Legislative Report for regular updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org . Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools . © 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved....

TASB Talks: Lege Update May 8, 2023

The House passed HB 100, school finance. Kay and Dax discuss what's in the bill, including changes to the basic allotments and other allotments. We also cover updates to budget negotiations and property tax relief. Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org . Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools . © 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved....

TASB Talks: Lege Update April 24, 2023

This week, we discuss the happenings in the Texas Legislature: Dueling property tax relief proposals Both chambers have passed their budget proposals and will now begin negotiations Voucher bills are still pending in the House Public Education Committee and could be voted on at any time The Senate passed SB 11, school safety Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org . Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for St...

TASB Talks: Lege Update April 17, 2023

On this week's TASB Talks, Kay and Dax discuss: The House Public Education Committee's discussion last week on several voucher bills The difference between the House and Senate's property tax relief plans The budget proposals from each chamber and what they include for public education Library book bills Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report to get updates on the session: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1353789/1352967/ © 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved....

TASB Talks: Lege Update April 11, 2023

Last week was a busy one in the Texas Legislature. The Senate passed: SB 8, a voucher bill SB 9, the "teacher bill of rights" SB 175, community censorship Meanwhile, the House rejected vouchers during its budget debate. Get the details and learn what you need to know for next week. Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report at gr.tasb.org . Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org . ©2023 Texas Association of Schoo...

TASB Talks: Lege Update April 3, 2023

Last week, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8 (vouchers) and SB 9 (teacher bill of rights). The bills have not yet gone to the full Senate. The House Public Education Committee took up several bills last week, including HB 2890, which would change the number of votes needed for the State Board of Education to veto a charter application from a majority to two-thirds. State Senate Affairs discussed SB 946, which would require all school district bond and tax elections to be held in Novembe...

TASB Talks: Lege Update March 27, 2023

Last week, the Senate Education Committee heard several voucher/education savings account (ESA) bills, including SB 8. This bill is estimated to cost Texans $1 billion. TASB commissioned a poll on ESAs and found that 55% of Texans reported being less likely to support vouchers knowing that these proposals would give private schools, not parents, the right to choose. We also share updates on the House budget, Senate property tax relief, and school safety proposals. Sign up for TASB's Texans for S...

TASB Talks: Lege Update March 20, 2023

Kay and Dax journey through last week's happenings and talk about what's to come this week. Learn more about: Senate Bill 175 on "taxpayer funded lobbying" a.k.a. community censorship was discussed last week Conversations on property tax reduction continue Legislation related to teachers, including an across-the-board pay raise, will be heard in Senate Ed this week Senate Ed will also be focused on vouchers Wednesday, hearing SB 8 and other voucher bills. SB 8 would create education savings acco...

TASB Talks: Lege Update March 13, 2023

Things are starting to pick up in the Legislature with House and Senate committees meeting regularly. Kay and Dax discuss: Enrollment vs. attendance-based school funding House priority bills School safety The legislative process Accountability of voucher (education savings account) programs Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org . ©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved....

TASB Talks: Lege Update March 6, 2023

This week we’ve seen Gov. Abbott travel around the state to promote education savings accounts. Kay and Dax discuss: What is an education savings account and is it any different from a voucher? Can public schools really be fully funded if vouchers are implemented? House and Senate education committee meetings The Teacher Vacancy Taskforce recommendations ©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.