Monitoring the Session

SB 2526

Zaffirini’s bill opening free pre-K to special education kids

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

Initial review · graded Oct 19, 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

Children in special education join the list for free pre-K.

The bill adds children who receive special education services to the list of three-year-olds and older who qualify for free public school prekindergarten. It touches families of young children in special education and the school districts that run pre-K classes. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, a child in special education can enroll in free pre-K on that basis alone.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2526 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

Children in special education join the list for free pre-K.

The bill adds children who receive special education services to the list of three-year-olds and older who qualify for free public school prekindergarten. It touches families of young children in special education and the school districts that run pre-K classes. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, a child in special education can enroll in free pre-K on that basis alone.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
FILED UNDER

Beats not yet reviewed.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60K

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 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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Money

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

×

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

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 19, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 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

Companion

HB 1996 by Hernandez (identical)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Education--Primary & Secondary--Special

PRESCHOOL & PREKINDERGARTEN

Text

The text as introduced · 367 words

89R4637 JDK-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2526

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.