A Republican lawmaker is challenging his colleagues to advance legislation aimed at ending taxpayer-funded government education for illegals after the proposal was previously sidelined over what was described as an “author problem.” In the culture of the Texas House, that is when legislation is authored by someone whom the lobby or the chamber’s leadership simply does not like.
State Rep. Andy Hopper (R–Decatur) announced Monday that he is offering last session’s House Bill 4707 to State Rep. Jared Patterson (R–Frisco), inviting him to refile the proposal in the 2027 legislative session.
The bill seeks to challenge Plyler v. Doe, a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring states to provide free public education to children of illegal aliens. The legislation was not given a committee hearing during last year’s legislative session.
In a closed-door State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., last week, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller questioned Texas lawmakers about their failure to advance legislation challenging the Plyler precedent, asking whether Texas had a “RINO problem.” (A White House spokesperson characterized the remark to Texas Scorecard as “a joke.”)
Sources have confirmed that Patterson told Miller that the legislation had not advanced because it had an “author problem.”
That comment referred to Hopper, a freshman lawmaker who took office in 2025.
In a statement, Hopper criticized the reasoning behind the bill’s failure.
“It is unfortunate for Texans that they are represented by individuals who place a higher value on obedience and fealty than solid policy wins that would save our citizens tens of billions of dollars,” said Hopper.
He added that Patterson had acknowledged the bill was good policy but suggested personal differences prevented its passage.
“My constituents don’t care who authors a bill; they care about conservative policy,” Hopper said. “Well, I’ll vote for any Jared Patterson bill that does the right thing, and that’s why I’m offering him my legislation from last session. Let’s remove any excuse for this bill not becoming law.”
Hopper concluded his statement by citing former President Ronald Reagan: “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
The Republican Party of Texas platform asserts that public education should be reserved for American citizens and opposes providing taxpayer-funded education to illegal aliens.
Patterson did not respond to a request for comment as of publication and has not publicly addressed Hopper’s offer.
