What happened: The Republican Party of Texas approved a resolution calling on lawmakers to prohibit school districts from using taxpayer funds to pay dues or fees to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The move comes nearly a year after the Midland ISD Board of Trustees voted to join Texans for Educational Excellence (TEE), which positions itself as an alternative to TASB.

MISD kept its TASB membership after joining TEE and continues to allow individual administrator memberships in TASA.

The big picture: The GOP resolution argues that TASB and TASA operate as taxpayer-funded monopolies by bundling services such as training, legal guidance, and insurance, making it difficult for districts to seek alternatives. Party leaders say this structure can drive up costs and reduce local school boards’ flexibility.

The resolution urges lawmakers to ban public funding for association dues, allow districts to exit existing arrangements without penalties, and open the school insurance and risk-management market to more private competition. Party leaders argue that districts should retain direct control over policy, budgets, and oversight without reliance on statewide associations funded by compulsory public dollars.

Go deeper: MISD joined TEE in February 2025 and adopted TEE-approved board policies in May that outlined educational philosophy, board authority, library book standards, and more. The vote to join TEE passed 4–2, with trustees Tommy Bishop and Sara Burleson voting against the move. The vote for the board policies passed 5-2, with Bishop and Burleson voting against the changes.

What’s next: MISD has not announced any changes to its TASB and TASA relationships following the resolution. Similar legislation banning taxpayer-funded lobbying has passed the Texas Senate in prior sessions but stalled in the House. With the issue now part of the party’s platform, it will likely return during the 2026 legislative session.