SB 1852
West Bill Hands Auto Shop Accreditation To One Private Group
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
THE TEXT
…“"institute" means the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill writes one named outside organization into law as the only accreditor allowed for every public school auto tech course. Schools must apply to and follow the rules of that one group, and the state pays its application fees.
Carve-outInitial 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 accreditation of automotive technology courses offered by public schools.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The state helps pay its application fees. No certification, no state money for the course.
The bill requires every Texas school district and charter school that offers an automotive technology course to get that course accredited by one named private group, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. It touches public schools with auto shop programs and the Texas Education Agency, which must help pay for training, equipment upgrades and application fees from available funds. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, schools cannot spend state money on these courses until they certify compliance, though they can get up to two one-year extensions through 2028.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 4, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1852 · 2025-03-04
SOLD BY
+ 2 coauthors
ITEM
relating to the accreditation of automotive technology courses offered by public schools.
WHAT IT DOES
The state helps pay its application fees. No certification, no state money for the course.
The bill requires every Texas school district and charter school that offers an automotive technology course to get that course accredited by one named private group, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. It touches public schools with auto shop programs and the Texas Education Agency, which must help pay for training, equipment upgrades and application fees from available funds. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, schools cannot spend state money on these courses until they certify compliance, though they can get up to two one-year extensions through 2028.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
…“"institute" means the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill writes one named outside organization into law as the only accreditor allowed for every public school auto tech course. Schools must apply to and follow the rules of that one group, and the state pays its application fees.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Education K-16
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“the agency shall support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to attain institute accreditation by paying the costs of required training, equipment upgrades, and application fees”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
State money is used to pay fees and costs tied to accreditation by a named private outside body instead of a state process.
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 4, 2025
03/17/2025 S Referred to Education K-16
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--Primary & Secondary--Charter Schools
Education--Primary & Secondary--Curriculum
Education--Primary & Secondary--Vocational
Education--School Districts
EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS
EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF
Text
The text as introduced · 404 words
89R13669 BCH-F By: West S.B. No. 1852 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the accreditation of automotive technology courses offered by public schools. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.195 to read as follows: Sec. 29.195. ACCREDITATION OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY COURSE REQUIRED. (a) In this section, "institute" means the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. (b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that offers to students a course related to automotive technology shall ensure that the course is accredited by the institute. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall: (1) submit through the agency an application for institute accreditation; and (2) comply with all applicable procedural guidelines established by the agency or the institute. (d) From funds appropriated or otherwise available, the agency shall support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to attain institute accreditation by paying the costs of required training, equipment upgrades, and application fees. (e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not spend money appropriated to the district or school for a course related to automotive technology for a state fiscal year until the district or school submits to the agency a report certifying the district's or school's compliance with this section during the preceding state fiscal year. (e-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), a school district or open-enrollment charter school that has not received institution accreditation for a course related to automotive technology may request an extension not to exceed one year from the agency. The agency may grant one additional extension not to exceed one year to a school district or open-enrollment charter school that demonstrates a good faith effort to attain institute accreditation. This subsection expires September 1, 2028. (f) The agency shall prepare and submit an annual written report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing committees with primary jurisdiction over education that includes information on the progress of implementing this section. (g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the commissioner of education, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt rules to implement Section 29.195, Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.