TITLE: Relating to a bonus payment for classroom teachers employed by a public school; making an appropriation.

SUMMARY: Relating to a bonus payment for classroom teachers employed by a public school; making an appropriation.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a bonus payment for classroom teachers employed by a public school; making an appropriation. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "classroom teacher" means an educator who, not less than an average of four hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technology instructional setting. The term does not include a teacher's aide or a full-time administrator. (b) Each classroom teacher employed by a school district or open-enrollment charter school on September 1, 2025, is entitled to a bonus payment in addition to the teacher's compensation for the 2025-2026 school year in an amount equal to $12,000. (c) An amount necessary to provide the bonus payment to each eligible classroom teacher under Subsection (b) of this section is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025, for distribution to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools on the basis of the number of classroom teachers employed by each district or school on September 1, 2025. The agency shall distribute the money appropriated under this section as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. (d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may use money distributed under Subsection (c) of this section only to provide a bonus payment to each classroom teacher employed by the district or school for the 2025-2026 school year in accordance with Subsection (b) of this section. The district or school shall provide the bonus payment to each teacher in 12 equal monthly installments. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.