Rep. Keresa Richardson wrote a bill that aligned with the priorities set by Texas Republicans.

This was a bill to follow HB 900 from the previous session that cleaned up issues with accountability based on ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Administrative Law Judge with the Texas Education Agency. It includes strengthened definitions, library transparency, and civil enforcement.

HB 4198 arrived in the House Public Education committee, chaired by Republican Brad Buckley, on March 31 and never had a hearing.

SB 13, in this session, was a similar bill. It passed through the Senate on March 19 and arrived in the House Public Education committee on April 9. That's how quickly and urgently the Senate worked on their bills. Before the House even got their bills into committee, the Senate had already had committee hearings, gone through calendar, and passed bills through the Senate.

House members, like Rep. Richardson, deserve better consideration for their good bills rather than having to turn to the Senate because of its greater urgency.