Monitoring the Session

HB 610

superintendent severance capped at six months’ pay

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

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 a severance payment to a superintendent of a school district.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Applies when the contract ends early. Salary and benefits both count.

The bill bars Texas school boards from paying a departing superintendent more than six months' salary and benefits as a severance payment when the contract ends early. It affects independent school district boards, their superintendents, and the state education commissioner, who must cut a district's state school funding by any amount paid over six months' worth, down from the current one-year threshold. Starting September 1, 2025, new severance deals are capped tighter and districts that overpay lose state money, while deals made before that date follow the old rules.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2801 (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 HB 2801 (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.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 7, 2025. Died in the Senate: left pending in the Education K-16 committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB610 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23 Rep. Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63 Rep. Giovanni CapriglioneRHouse 98

+ 1 more author, 8 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a severance payment to a superintendent of a school district.

WHAT IT DOES

Applies when the contract ends early. Salary and benefits both count.

The bill bars Texas school boards from paying a departing superintendent more than six months' salary and benefits as a severance payment when the contract ends early. It affects independent school district boards, their superintendents, and the state education commissioner, who must cut a district's state school funding by any amount paid over six months' worth, down from the current one-year threshold. Starting September 1, 2025, new severance deals are capped tighter and districts that overpay lose state money, while deals made before that date follow the old rules.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Public Education
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-VanDeaver
  18. Passed to engrossment as amended
  19. Record vote RV#1535
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Amendment fails of adoption 1-Olcott
  23. Record vote RV#1607
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote RV#1608
  27. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  28. Reported engrossed
  29. Received from the House
  30. Read first time
  31. Referred to Education K-16
  32. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Testimony taken in committee
  35. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 146 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 7, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terri Leo Wilson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$525KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$50KDustin Burrows Campaign$45K

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 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$525,040.28

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$525,040.28

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$460,040.28
Total
$525,040.28
advertising $253,649.00mail $170,891.28polling $35,500.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 23, 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: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$50,000.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$50,000.00
Total
$50,000.00
canvassing $50,000.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 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.

Report IDs: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$525,040.28

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$460,040.28
Total
$525,040.28
advertising $253,649.00mail $170,891.28polling $35,500.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 23, 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: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$50,000.00
Total
$50,000.00
canvassing $50,000.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 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.

Report IDs: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.

Votes3

House May 7, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1608

HB 610 was passed by (Record 1608): 146 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
76
Nay
68
Present, not voting
1
Absent
5
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1607

Amendment No. 1 failed of adoption (not receiving the necessary two-thirds vote) by (Record 1607): 76 Yeas, 68 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 76 (published)
  • Nay: 68 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 6, 2025

Yea
144
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1535

HB 610, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1535): 144 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 144 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses15
For
9
Against
4
On
2
Names

For

  • Self4 registrations
  • Self; Texas Eagle Forum, President1 registration
  • Texas Classroom Teachers Association1 registration
  • Texas Education 9111 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration
  • Texas State Teachers Association1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations
  • Texas Association of School Administrators1 registration
  • Texas School Alliance1 registration

On

  • TEA2 registrations
Sources

15 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 2801

by Rep. Leo-Wilson, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 14, 2023: Referred to Public Education

Relating to a severance payment to a superintendent of a school district.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/22/2025 S Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

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

Coauthors
Briscoe CainRHouse 128 Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Janis HoltRHouse 18 Helen KerwinRHouse 58 Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11 David SpillerRHouse 68 Valoree SwansonRHouse 150
Sponsors
Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

House committee · Public Education · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel

Education--School Districts

Salaries & Expenses

EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF

Text

The text as introduced · 339 words

89R479 JTZ-D

By: Leo Wilson
H.B. No. 610

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a severance payment to a superintendent of a school

district.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11.201(c), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) For purposes of this subsection, "severance payment"

means any amount paid by the board of trustees of an independent

school district to or in behalf of a superintendent on early

termination of the superintendent's contract that exceeds the

amount earned by the superintendent under the contract as of the

date of termination, including any amount that exceeds the amount

of earned standard salary and benefits that is paid as a condition

of early termination of the contract. The board of trustees may not

make a severance payment to a superintendent in an amount greater

than six months' salary and benefits under the superintendent's

terminated contract. The board of trustees that makes a severance

payment to a superintendent shall report the terms of the severance

payment to the commissioner. The commissioner shall reduce the

district's Foundation School Program funds by any amount that the

amount of the severance payment to the superintendent exceeds an

amount equal to six months' [ one year's ] salary and benefits under

the superintendent's terminated contract. The commissioner may

adopt rules as necessary to administer this subsection.

SECTION 2. Section 11.201(c), Education Code, as amended by

this Act, applies only to a severance payment made by the board of

trustees of an independent school district to a superintendent

under an agreement entered into on or after the effective date of

this Act. A severance payment made by the board of trustees of an

independent school district to a superintendent under an agreement

entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by

the law in effect at the time the agreement was made, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.