The Texas legislative session is a meeting of state senators and representatives who form committees to decide what new bills, if any, should be filed to address statewide problems. It is held every two years.

This session is Texas’ 86th and started Jan. 8 and will go through May 27. Legislators began filing proposed bills on Nov. 12, and more will be filed up until the March 8 deadline. June 16 is the governor’s deadline to sign or veto bills.

At the top of everyone’s mind this session is school finance reform and school safety. For years, the state’s share toward school districts’ budgets has been diminishing, and districts have had to pick up the slack with local tax dollars. State leaders have promised they will fix the system.

Local districts are also eager to learn how legislators will address school safety concerns and if they will fund safety measures such as hiring counselors and liaison officers, modifying buildings and more.

Read our cover story to learn more about the issues CCISD is following and why they are important.