HB 3627 – SBOE operational independence

HB 3627 improves accountability and operational efficiency within the State Board of Education (SBOE) by allowing the elected Chair to hire a small team of direct support staff. This reform empowers elected leadership to fulfill its constitutional duties without relying solely on the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which is run by unelected bureaucrats. By ensuring these staff report directly to the SBOE Chair, the bill strengthens responsiveness to Texas voters. It also helps reduce dependency on TEA’s internal priorities, which may not always align with those of the SBOE or the public. While the bill adds modest recurring costs, it does so transparently and with legislative oversight, rather than creating unaccountable or bloated structures. These positions are limited in number and focus strictly on board support, not programmatic expansion. From a limited government standpoint, this helps to ensure that more authority and accountability rests with elected officials, not entrenched bureaucratic agencies.