TX HB117

Establishes the Governor's Task Force on the Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care, administratively attached to the Texas Education Agency, to address governance and operational challenges in the state's early childhood education system

Steering committee includes the executive commissioner of Health and Human Services Commission, commissioner of Texas Education Agency, chair of Texas Workforce Commission, relevant division directors, and TEA's inter-agency deputy director of early childhood support

Task force members include public and private prekindergarten teachers, representatives from Head Start, Department of State Health Services, Texas Early Learning Council, and 2-5 governor-appointed individuals with early childhood education expertise

Task force must examine governance challenges, develop quality standards for prekindergarten programs, review functions of HHSC, TEA, and TWC related to early childhood, and consider large-scale redesign methods to improve efficiency and service delivery

Report with policy and budget recommendations due to the legislature by December 1, 2026; task force expires September 1, 2027; implementation contingent on legislative appropriation of funds