The 89th Legislature made significant progress toward preparing Texans for high-demand careers. Lawmakers advanced reforms to modernize community college finance, expand access to affordable bachelor’s degrees and better align education more directly with workforce needs. They even built on prior reforms (notably HB 8 from 2023) with data-driven, future-focused investments.
We take a look at 8 ways the Legislature advanced a career-ready workforce that Texas 2036 championed or supported.
SB 1786 by Sen. Creighton & Rep. VanDeaver
Texas further refined its outcomes-based funding model to ensure that community colleges are rewarded for helping students earn credentials that lead to high-value careers.
SB 1786 cont.
Community colleges will receive locally-tailored labor market projections and higher quality workforce data, allowing them to better adapt programs to meet the needs of their regions.
HB 3923 by Rep. K. Bell & Sen. Parker
Texas is advancing skills-based hiring by directing state agencies to remove bachelor’s degree requirements for positions where a degree is not essential.
SB 2314 by Sen. Creighton & Rep. Wilson
Texas invested in tools to help students better understand their options after high school and navigate the college application process more easily, particularly through enhanced digital platforms that reduce complexity and expand reach.
SJR 59 by Sen. Birdwell & Rep. Lambert
This constitutional amendment proposes a permanent endowment to support the capital needs of the Texas State Technical College system, allowing the expansion of critical technical education programs and credentials.
HB 120 by Rep. K. Bell & Sen. Schwertner
HB 2 by Rep. Buckley & Sen. Creighton
These two bills set bold new career-readiness goals for Texas high schools, scale high quality high school models and better align the high school experience to the workforce needs of the future.
HB 11 by Rep. Phelan & Sen. Middleton
To make it easier for skilled professionals to enter the Texas workforce, the state is streamlining license recognition in fields such as HVAC technicians, electricians and plumbers across state lines.
HB 4848 by Rep. Harris-Davila & Sen. A. Hinojosa
Expands access to low-cost, competency-based bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields by requiring every public higher education system to offer at least one program that’s flexible, career-aligned and priced at no more than half the average cost of a traditional degree.