TX HB3170

Caps school district legal fees at $10,000 for defending against due process complaints alleging violations of federal or state special education laws

Requires the superintendent to submit a confidential report to the board of trustees when legal fees reach 80% of the $10,000 limit, including a case summary and estimate of total legal costs needed

Board of trustees must either direct the district to settle the case before exceeding the fee limit or authorize spending above the $10,000 cap to continue defending the proceeding

Districts must post monthly reports on their website and submit to the Texas Education Agency for any special education case where legal fees exceed $10,000, including subject matter and total fees incurred

TEA must compile and publish the reported information monthly, both aggregated statewide and disaggregated by individual school district, while protecting student privacy under FERPA