FROM THE GOVERNOR

Abbott signs laws to expand Texas’ Career Training Programs FORNEY — Governor Greg Abbott ceremonially signed House Bill 20 and House Bill 120 into law to expand career and technical education opportunities for students across Texas.

“Career training is a game-changer for our students, for our state, and for our employers,” said Governor Abbott. “A four-year college degree is not the right pathway for every student. It may be a smarter pathway for a student to get career training. In just the past two years, the State of Texas has invested more than $7 billion in career training programs across Texas. Career training and technical education is bigger and better than it has ever been with the signing of these two laws.”

During his remarks, Governor Abbott highlighted that Texas is the blueprint for America’s economic success, noting the state’s continued investment in our workforce through programs like the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership Program, the Jobs & Education for Texans Grant Program, and adult high school charter programs. The Governor emphasized the need to modernize the state’s young and diverse workforce through career and technical education. Additionally, Governor Abbott touted that Texas continues to create better job and bigger paycheck opportunities through career training investments to cement Texas’ status as a global economic powerhouse.

In his 2025 State of the State Address, Governor Abbott made expanding career training an emergency item for the 89th Regular Legislative Session to ensure Texas has a workforce ready for the jobs of tomorrow.

The Governor was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Senator Bob Hall, Representative Gary Gates, Representative Keith Bell, Forney Independent School District (ISD) School Board President Greg Pharris, Forney ISD Electrical Technology graduate Tyler Rivas, and other state and local leaders.

House Bill 20 (Gates/ Schwertner) establ ishes the Applied Sciences Pathway Program to allow 11th and 12th grade students to earn high school diplomas while concurrently completing certificate programs through partnerships with institutions of higher education (IHE). Through the partnerships, students may substitute graduation requirements with credits in career and technical education courses (CTE).

House Bill 120 (Bell/ Schwertner) strengthens college, career, and military readiness in Texas public school by expanding access to high-quality CTE programs. This bill also improves college and career advising by ensuing counselors use up-todate workforce data, and providing funding for military training programs.

Abbott names Shaffer Director of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Office AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott today named Jarred Shaffer as Director of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Office (TANO). TANO will provide strategic leadership to support advanced nuclear project development within Texas and administer the $350 million Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund to incentivize the development of the nuclear energy industry in Texas.

“The State of Texas continues to build the world’s most robust and diverse energy sector,” said Governor Abbott. “TANO and the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund will increase Texas’ investment in an all-of-the-above energy approach to solidify Texas as the world’s energy hub. Jarred Shaffer’s expertise on energy issues makes him the best fit to streamline the nuclear regulatory environment and direct investments to spur a flourishing and competitive nuclear power industry in the Lone Star State. Texas will lead the nuclear renaissance.”

Jarred Shaffer of Flower Mound serves as a Budget and Policy Advisor in the Office of the Governor. Previously, Shaffer served as the Committee Director for the Texas House Committee on State Affairs in the Office of Representative Chris Paddie, a Legislative Liaison for the Texas Department of Transportation, Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Texas Senator Brian Birdwell, and a Program Specialist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Additionally, Shaffer lived abroad in Argent ina teaching English and building permanent housing settlements. Shaffer received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies/Government and minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

In June, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 14 into law which established TANO and created a $350 million Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund. This legislation follows Governor Abbott’s directive that the Public Utility Commission establish the Texas Advanced Reactor Working Group (TARWG) to study and plan for the use of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas.