HB 1248
Election language for the education commissioner
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
related to making the Texas Education Commissioner an elected office
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Adds four-year elections while retaining appointment by the governor and senate consent.
The bill adds a line to the Education Code saying the state education commissioner is elected for a four-year term. It leaves in place, unbracketed, the existing line saying the governor appoints the commissioner with the senate's consent. It sets no election date, ballot process, or transition, so on the ground the commissioner's selection stays unclear and the appointment language stays on the books.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 82 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 82 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1248 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
related to making the Texas Education Commissioner an elected office
WHAT IT DOES
Adds four-year elections while retaining appointment by the governor and senate consent.
The bill adds a line to the Education Code saying the state education commissioner is elected for a four-year term. It leaves in place, unbracketed, the existing line saying the governor appoints the commissioner with the senate's consent. It sets no election date, ballot process, or transition, so on the ground the commissioner's selection stays unclear and the appointment language stays on the books.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Education
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
One Texas PAC$100,000.00
One Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101027855.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012345, 101027855, 101058317, 101068299, 101071424.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$20,000.00
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101058317.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
One Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101027855.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012345, 101027855, 101058317, 101068299, 101071424.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101058317.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/10/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 10 2025 2:24PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Elections--General
EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF
Text
The text as introduced · 82 words
By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 1248 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT related to making the Texas Education Commissioner an elected office BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sec. 7.051 of the Texas Education Code is amended as follows: The commissioner is elected for a term of four years. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the commissioner of education. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.