Candidate Information

Rep. James Talarico

Democrat
Position sought: Representative, District 50

Website: https://www.jamestalarico.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepTalarico/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamestalarico
Received contribution from ACT for TCTA political action committee: yes

Voting record on select education issues
1 2 3 4 5 6
Voted with TCTA position Voted with TCTA position Voted with TCTA position Voted with TCTA position Voted against TCTA position Voted with TCTA position

Voted with TCTA position = Voted with TCTA position Voted against TCTA position = Voted against TCTA position Absent = Absent Present Not Voting = Present Not Voting (typically the Speaker or Speaker designee)

KEY HOUSE VOTES IN 2021

The following were some of the key bills of interest to educators during the 2021 regular session.

Vote No. 1 — SB 1 by Nelson/Bonnen was the budget bill for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years. Rep. Herrero offered an amendment that would prohibit the use of state funds for a voucher program. The amendment passed 115-29. A vote FOR the amendment is in support of TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST the amendment is in opposition to TCTA’s position.

Vote No. 2 — HB 1525 by Huberty/Taylor makes revisions and corrections to the major school finance bill of 2019. Rep. Chris Turner offered a TCTA-proposed amendment to protect teacher pay raises, so that districts must pay an employee compensation at least equal to what the employee received for the 2019-20 school year. The amendment passed 97-49. A vote FOR the amendment is in support of TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST the amendment is in opposition to TCTA’s position. 

Vote No. 3 — HB 3979 by Toth/Creighton was the first of two bills designed to address concerns about public schools teaching “critical race theory.” Though the issue was highly politicized, TCTA’s opposition to the bill was based on concerns about potential legal issues for teachers, not on politics. The bill passed the House 79-65. TCTA opposed the bill. A vote FOR HB 3979 is in opposition to TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST HB 3979 is in support of TCTA’s position. 

Vote No. 4 — SB 2081 by Menendez/Talarico extends 22:1 class-size caps to prekindergarten. The bill passed the House 86-61. TCTA supported the bill. A vote FOR SB 2081 is in support of TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST SB 2081 is in opposition to TCTA’s position.

Vote No. 5 — HB 1348 by Deshotel would have granted additional power to the organizations operating charter schools, and limited the ability of local officials to respond to community concerns about new charter schools in the area. The bill failed in the House 66-72. TCTA opposed the bill. A vote FOR HB 1348 is in opposition to TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST HB 1348 is in support of TCTA’s position. 

Vote No. 6 — SB 1267 by West/Lozano streamlines teacher professional development and training requirements with the goal of ensuring that teachers have enhanced ability to select training that is meaningful and relevant to their needs. The bill passed the House 112-27. TCTA supported the bill. A vote FOR SB 1267 is in support of TCTA’s position; a vote AGAINST SB 1267 is in opposition to TCTA’s position.