State Senator César J. Blanco Passes Bill to Help Fill Teacher and Staff Shortages in Rural Texas

Press Release Contact: Taylor Sanchez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Taylor.sanchez@senate.texas.gov
May 12, 2025
State Senator César J. Blanco Passes Bill to Help Fill Teacher and
Staff Shortages in Rural Texas
Austin, Texas – Today, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1581, authored by Senator César J.
Blanco, to help small and rural school districts address critical staffing shortages by removing
outdated hiring restrictions.
Under current law, school districts are prohibited from hiring former school board members until
one year after they leave office. For districts defined as “small” under state law—those with
fewer than 1,600 students—this rule makes it even harder to fill open positions in already
understaffed and remote communities.
SB 1581 updates the law by allowing these small districts to hire former trustees immediately
after they leave the board
Senator Blanco issued the following statement:
“Small and rural school districts are doing everything they can to serve their students, but many
simply don’t have enough people to fill key positions. For communities with limited workforces,
this restriction often means leaving vital jobs unfilled.
SB 1581 gives small and rural school districts the flexibility to hire qualified, committed
individuals, people already invested in the community, without unnecessary red tape.
Whether it’s a teacher, a school nurse, a bus driver, or a custodian, every position matters in our
schools. By allowing small districts to consider former trustees for employment right away,
we’re helping them fill gaps faster and better serve students.”
The bill now heads to the Texas House for consideration.
For further information, please contact Taylor Sanchez at Taylor.Sanchez@senate.texas.gov.