Senator Nelson's Teacher Pay Legislation Advances

AUSTIN – The Texas Senate today unanimously approved SB 3 by Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, providing a permanent $5,000 annual salary increase for every classroom teacher in the state. The bill now goes to the Texas House of Representatives for further consideration.

"It has been a decade since teachers received a small raise from the state," said Senator Nelson. "It's been two decades since they received a meaningful raise. It's time to give our teachers -- all of our teachers -- a raise."

Specifically, SB 3:

• Establishes a new Classroom Teacher Salary Allotment;
• Directs that each classroom teacher and librarian is entitled to a $5000 salary increase above their 2018-19 school year salary;
• Specifies that raise is paid for by the state;
• Clarifies that this bill does not preclude districts from offering merit raises; and
• Ensures that districts may not use these dollars to supplant current salaries.

SB 1, the Senate's base budget, includes $3.7B for SB 3. Teacher pay was designated as an emergency item by Governor Abbott in his State of the State Address.

Senator Jane Nelson represents District 12, including portions of Tarrant and Denton Counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the highest-ranking Republican in the Texas Senate.

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