Today, Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) filed SB 26, the first bill in
the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights legislative package.
“Texas educators dedicate their lives to shaping the next generation by showing up every
day, ready to make a difference, said Creighton. “They deserve more than just our gratitude;
they deserve real support and protections. This session, I am pursuing an even stronger
Texas Teacher Bill of Rights to ensure that educators get the respect, compensation, and
protections they need to succeed.
Senate Bill 26, filed today, provides a historic pay raise for Texas teachers by establishing a
permanent allotment that guarantees across-the-board salary increases. Under the bill,
teachers will receive raises in their third and fifth years, with additional funds allocated to
those in small and rural districts. The legislation also expands the Teacher Incentive
Allotment, creating more opportunities for high-performing educators to earn over $100,000
annually.
“Totaling almost $5 billion, this is a generational investment in our educators,” said
Creighton. “No state has ever made a teacher pay commitment of this magnitude. If we
want to recruit and retain the best teachers for our kids, we must make Texas the most
attractive place in the country to teach.”
Beyond pay raises, Senate Bill 26 includes free pre-K for educators’ children and establishes
a new liability protection program for Texas teachers.
“Teachers should never have to choose between maintaining order in their classrooms and
protecting themselves from legal concerns,” Creighton continued. “This liability protection
funding ensures they have the backing they need to enforce discipline and focus on what
they do best—teaching.”
Because teacher compensation was declared an emergency item by Governor Abbott, the
Texas Senate will work swiftly to advance SB 26. Creighton also plans to introduce
legislation this session to address challenges our teachers face, including classroom safety
and discipline, contract protections, and establish a teacher residency program to pair
aspiring educators with experienced mentors to build a stronger workforce.
“The future of Texas begins in the classroom,” Creighton concluded. “We owe it to our
educators—and the students they serve—to rise above politics and deliver real, lasting
change. This session, we will pass the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights and make our state the
best place in America to teach.”