Relating to the establishment of the governor's task force on the governance of early childhood education and care, the official text

H.B. No. 117

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the governor's task force on the

governance of early childhood education and care.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 455 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 455. GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON GOVERNANCE OF EARLY

CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE

Sec. 455.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "task force"

means the governor's task force on the governance of early

childhood education and care established under this chapter.

Sec. 455.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The governor's task

force on the governance of early childhood education and care is

established to address the governance and operational challenges of

the early childhood education system in this state.

(b) The task force is administratively attached to the Texas

Education Agency.

Sec. 455.003. MEMBERS. (a) The task force shall include a

steering committee composed of the following members:

(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission;

(2) the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency;

(3) the chair of the Texas Workforce Commission;

(4) relevant division directors designated by the

individuals described by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3); and

(5) the Texas Education Agency's inter-agency deputy

director of early childhood support.

(b) The task force is composed of the following members:

(1) one public school teacher certified to teach

prekindergarten;

(2) one certified teacher who is employed by a private

child-care facility or prekindergarten program;

(3) a representative from the Texas Head Start State

Collaboration Office appointed by the governor;

(4) a representative from the Department of State

Health Services appointed by the governor;

(5) two representatives from the Texas Early Learning

Council designated by the steering committee described by

Subsection (a); and

(6) at least two but not more than five individuals

with knowledge of early childhood education and care or experience

as a direct operator of an early childhood education and care

program, including business and community leaders, representatives

of nonprofit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders,

appointed by the governor.

(c) The governor shall appoint the chair of the task force.

(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or

duration of the task force.

Sec. 455.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:

(1) examine governance and operational challenges in

the early childhood education and care system, including federal

and local child-care programs and regulations governing those

programs;

(2) develop and recommend standards for high quality

prekindergarten programs, including programs under Subchapter E-1,

Chapter 29, Education Code;

(3) with a focus on improving government efficiency,

conduct a comprehensive review of the existing functions and

responsibilities of the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas

Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission related to early

childhood education and care; and

(4) consider methods for a large-scale redesign of the

administration of early childhood programs to improve efficiency,

service delivery, quality of care, and the efficient use of

funding.

(b) The steering committee of the task force shall:

(1) align goals and metrics of the Health and Human

Services Commission, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce

Commission to measure progress, including aligning statewide data

systems; and

(2) require the Health and Human Services Commission,

Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission to complete

and submit to the task force periodic progress reports and

regularly refine statewide goals and strategic plans to ensure

alignment with evolving early childhood education and care needs.

(c) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the

purpose, the Texas Education Agency shall pay the costs of data

system integration, research, and administration for the task

force.

Sec. 455.005. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the

task force shall develop and submit to the legislature policy and

budget recommendations designed to improve early childhood

education and care governance that will:

(1) facilitate and improve early childhood education

and care participant engagement with state agencies; and

(2) lead to improved operational efficiency,

increased affordable child care capacity, and improved

kindergarten readiness.

Sec. 455.006. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and

this chapter expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. An entity to which Chapter 455, Government Code,

as added by this Act, applies is required to implement a provision

of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically

for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money

specifically for that purpose, an entity may, but is not required

to, implement a provision of this Act using other money available

for that purpose.

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.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 117 was passed by the House on April

17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 103, Nays 40, 2 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 117 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 110, Nays 23,

2 present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 117 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays

6.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor