The “Texas Two-Step” is a Misstep for Improving Texas

Improve HB 3, Kill HB 2. Read why...

The Texas House sells HB 2 and HB 3 as a package deal for education reform, calling them the "Texas Two-Step." But this so-called two-step is a misstep.

The package prioritizes billions more taxpayer money for a broken public education monopoly while substantially limiting school choice and property tax relief efforts. In fact, there would be twice as much with at least $8 billion for public education than the school choice amount of $1 billion and new property tax relief (not already required by existing law)of $3 billion…combined.

Ultimately, this would make improving education or eliminating school district maintenance and operations (M&O) property taxes much harder, if not impossible. Therefore, HB 2 should die, and HB 3 needs improvements to ensure Texas delivers true education freedom.

But let’s consider these two bills' merits and how they fit…