Monitoring the SessionHB 4241
Died in committee
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
relating to the process for filling a vacancy on the board of trustees of an independent school district.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Vacancies go to an election by the 18th month. Taxpayers can sue, immunity waived.
The bill bars Texas school boards from filling a vacant trustee seat by appointment and requires the seat to be filled at the district's next general election or at a special election. It reaches every independent school district board and the property owners who pay that district's taxes. Any vacancy must be filled by the last day of the 18th month after it opens, and a district property-tax payer can sue the board over a violation and recover damages, attorney's fees, and court costs, because the board's immunity from suit is waived.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 2501 by Sen. Middleton (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 2501 by Sen. Middleton (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB4241 · 2025-03-10
+ 2 coauthors
relating to the process for filling a vacancy on the board of trustees of an independent school district.
Vacancies go to an election by the 18th month. Taxpayers can sue, immunity waived.
The bill bars Texas school boards from filling a vacant trustee seat by appointment and requires the seat to be filled at the district's next general election or at a special election. It reaches every independent school district board and the property owners who pay that district's taxes. Any vacancy must be filled by the last day of the 18th month after it opens, and a district property-tax payer can sue the board over a violation and recover damages, attorney's fees, and court costs, because the board's immunity from suit is waived.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
“Governmental immunity from suit is waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by this section.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets district property owners sue school boards for damages and attorney's fees, without first going through a grievance process, when a board breaks the vacancy rules.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
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 17, 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.
$20,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jul 18, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101012140, 101061664, 101070603.
$15,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Jun 4, 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: 101005987, 101061664.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$20,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jul 18, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101012140, 101061664, 101070603.
$15,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Jun 4, 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: 101005987, 101061664.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Middleton, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 23, 2023: Referred to Education
Relating to the process for filling a vacancy on the board of trustees of an independent school district.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Mar 10, 2025
03/31/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 31 2025 4:34PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
SB 1795 by Middleton (identical)
HB 4551 by Harrison (duplicate)
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Education--Primary & Secondary--General
Education--School Districts
Elections--School District
The text as introduced · 315 words
89R588 TSS-F By: Holt H.B. No. 4241 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the process for filling a vacancy on the board of trustees of an independent school district. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 11.060, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: (a) If a vacancy occurs on the board of trustees of an independent school district, the remaining trustees may not fill the vacancy by appointment [ until the next trustee election ]. The board shall fill the vacancy at the district's next general election or as provided by Subsection (c). (c) Instead of filling a vacancy [ by appointment ] under Subsection (a) or (b), the board or municipal governing body may hold [ order ] a special election to fill the vacancy. A special election is conducted in the same manner as the district's general election except as provided by the Election Code. (d) A [ If more than one year remains in the term of the position vacated, the ] vacancy shall be filled under this section not later than the last [ 180th ] day of the 18th month after the date the vacancy occurs. (e) A person who owns property subject to ad valorem taxation by the school district may bring an action against the board of trustees of an independent school district to enjoin a violation of this section. If the person prevails in the action, the person may recover damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs. A person may not be required to complete an administrative grievance process before bringing suit under this subsection. (f) Governmental immunity from suit is waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
