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Wins & Losses for Workers: Texas AFL-CIO Reflects on 89th Legislative Session

Texas AFL-CIO
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TEXAS – Today, the Texas AFL-CIO releases the following statement on Sine Die, the last day of the 89th Legislative Session.

“Workers showed up this session to testify, rally, and hold our lawmakers accountable,” said Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar. “But while we did win a few protections this session, Greg Abbott chose to side with the billionaires and the big corporations. Texas labor isn’t going anywhere, and we’ll keep fighting for all Texas workers.” 

 

Wins for workers this session include: 

✅ PASSED — Protecting utility workers: Senate Bill 482 (SB 482)
This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Texas State Association of Electrical Workers (TSAEW), and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) priority bill sent to the governor. Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) and Rep. E. Sam Harless (R-Spring) carried SB 482, which aims to protect utility workers from assault and harassment, especially following natural disasters. Utility workers in Houston faced threats and physical assaults last year after Hurricane Beryl caused prolonged power outages. The advocacy of the leadership and membership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66 in Houston played a key role in the passage of the bill.


✅ PASSED — Expanding ERS retirement eligibility: SB 1737 
This is a Texas State Employees Union (TSEU) and juvenile corrections officers priority bill sent to the governor. Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton), and Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) carried it. SB 2137 would broaden eligibility for certain employees of Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) to access service credit under Employee Retirement Services (ERS), and additionally would allow them to retire after 20 years. TJJD officers have the highest turnover in the state, at nearly 70%. This increased benefit is one step towards lowering that turnover and supporting state workers.


✅ PASSED — Increasing railroad safety: SB 2129
This is a Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET) priority bill sent to the governor. Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) and Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-Euless) carried SB 2129 increases the penalty for failing to obey a signal that indicated the approach of a train, aiming to enhance railroad safety for railroad employees, specifically railroad flagger employees.


✅ PASSED — Educator pay raises: House Bill 2 (HB 2)
HB 2 still does not bring schools back to 2019 funding levels, but it does make meaningful and long overdue investments in educator pay. It is the Texas American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT’s) sincere hope that the investments made in the classroom deliver on the Republican majority’s promise of staving off the major cuts and layoffs and offsetting the most severe deficit budgets. 


✅ PASSED — Legislative leave for correctional officers: HB 1828
This is a AFSCME Corrections Officers priority bill sent to the governor. Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D-Dallas) and Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) carried the bipartisan bill. This bill creates a legislative leave pool for Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees, allowing correctional officers to participate in the legislative process without risking their time off. These men and women work in incredibly difficult environments, and they deserve a seat at the table when decisions are being made.


✅ PASSED — Supporting EMS education: HB 1105
This EMS priority bill will make paramedics eligible for tuition and laboratory fee exemptions when enrolled in emergency medical services courses at public schools. It was carried by Rep. Sheryl Cole (D-Austin) and Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin), but had bipartisan support. Firefighters already have this same benefit. 


✅ PASSED — Significant investment in Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs: SB 1 (budget)
Texas needs to grow existing high-quality apprenticeship programs to train skilled workers. This year, the Legislature increased its state support of Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs by $10 million, helping us train the next generation of Texans.
 

Major attacks on workers passed this session include: 

❌ PASSED — Private school voucher scam: SB 2
Don’t mess with Texas schools! Texas AFT members fought valiantly against Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scam, but with a last-ditch phone call from Donald Trump, most Republican lawmakers fell in line to vote for this dangerous bill. Abbott signed the bill during the session, surrounded by his billionaire backers.

❌ PASSED — ICE cooperation in our communities: SB 8
This bill forces sheriffs in counties with more than 100,000 residents to cooperate with ICE. Texans know that immigrant workers are a critical part of our communities, economy, and labor movement. Our partners at Workers Defense Action Fund fought all session against this bill. 

❌ PASSED —  So-called “Parents Bill of Rights”: SB 12
This bill bans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in public schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill prohibits discussions of race, gender, and sexual orientation, and restricts the privacy of transgender and nonbinary students. It also makes it illegal for school districts to consider DEI factors in hiring and employment decisions. Texas AFT fought hard against this bill. 

Missed opportunities this session include: 

  • Increasing wages and expanding workplace benefits.

  • Protecting workers on the job.

  • Expanding paid leave for Texas families. 

  • Protecting all workers, no matter their status.

  • Reducing state employee turnover. 

  • Supporting public sector retirees. 

  • Fixing the unemployment system.

  • Creating jobs in clean energy.

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The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org