HB 1996

bill opening free pre-K to special education kids

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the eligibility of children enrolled in a special education program for free prekindergarten programs in public schools.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Special education students join the free pre-K list, age three and up.

The bill adds children who receive special education services to the list of groups eligible for free public prekindergarten. It touches children at least three years old in special education, their families, and the school districts that run pre-K classes. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, a child in special education qualifies for free pre-K on that basis alone, without having to meet another category such as being educationally disadvantaged.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Jan 22, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1996 · 2025-01-22

SOLD BY

Rep. Ana HernandezDHouse 143

ITEM

relating to the eligibility of children enrolled in a special education program for free prekindergarten programs in public schools.

WHAT IT DOES

Special education students join the free pre-K list, age three and up.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Jan 22, 2025Filed
Mar 14, 2025Read first time
Mar 14, 2025Referred to Public Education

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ana Hernandez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15K Border Health PAC$10K

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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987003, 101013859, 101020093, 101059809, 101070083.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 1, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100987003, 101072690.

Border Health PAC$10,000.00

Border Health PAC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 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: 101020093.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987003, 101013859, 101020093, 101059809, 101070083.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 1, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100987003, 101072690.

Border Health PAC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 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: 101020093.

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 Jan 22, 2025

03/14/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 14 2025 2:36PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2526 by Zaffirini (identical)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Education--Primary & Secondary--Special

PRESCHOOL & PREKINDERGARTEN

Text

The text as introduced · 367 words

89R4637 JDK-F

By: Hernandez
H.B. No. 1996

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of children enrolled in a special

education program for free prekindergarten programs in public

schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 29.153(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten

class under this section if the child is at least three years of age

and:

(1) is unable to speak and comprehend the English

language;

(2) is educationally disadvantaged;

(3) is homeless, regardless of the residence of the

child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or

other person having lawful control of the child;

(4) is the child of an active duty member of the armed

forces of the United States, including the state military forces or

a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active

duty by proper authority;

(5) is the child of a member of the armed forces of the

United States, including the state military forces or a reserve

component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while

serving on active duty;

(6) is or ever has been in:

(A) the conservatorship of the Department of

Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held

as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or

(B) foster care in another state or territory, if

the child resides in this state; [ or ]

(7) is the child of a person eligible for the Star of

Texas Award as:

(A) a peace officer under Section 3106.002,

Government Code;

(B) a firefighter under Section 3106.003,

Government Code; or

(C) an emergency medical first responder under

Section 3106.004, Government Code ; or

(8) receives special education services under

Subchapter A .

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.