At a Capitol news conference, Aycock was joined by lawmakers from both parties and joked "this is not an old white guy Republican issue." But he acknowledged that the plan could clash with the state Senate, which has prioritized "tax relief" over school funding and spent Tuesday passing sweeping property and business tax cuts.
"I believe there is adequate funding to accomplish significant tax cuts and do what is right for the children of the state of Texas," Aycock said, adding that he's confident he can push the plan through the full House but remains only "hopeful" of its chances in the Senate.
The effort, though, also means lawmakers may have to walk a legal tightrope amid the multiyear school finance case. The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear it on appeal but likely won't decide until well after the legislative session is over.
The case began in 2011, when the GOP-controlled Legislature cut $5.4 billion from public education funding. That prompted more than 600 school districts statewide to sue — triggering Texas' sixth major school finance court fight since 1984.
Lawmakers restored about $3.4 billion in funding in 2013. Still, last year, a district judge in Austin declared the school finance system unconstitutional, saying funding was inadequate and unfairly distributed among school districts.
If the Supreme Court upholds that decision, it would order the Legislature to remake the school finance system and could ultimately wipe out Aycock's plan and any other related actions lawmakers take this summer.
Aycock said the plan wouldn't "try to outguess the lawyers," but that it was important to pass such a major overhaul now, while state coffers are flush.
Texas has no state income tax, meaning schools rely heavily on local property taxes and a "robin hood" system where school districts in the wealthiest parts of the state share funding with those in poorer areas.
Aycock said his plan would see current funding rise for at least 94 percent of students statewide — but also said that means some school districts will see funding fall some.
Classroom advocates immediately cheered the plan. Association of Texas Professional Educators Executive Director Gary Godsey hailed Aycock in a statement "for courageously providing true leadership by taking the first step on fixing our broken school finance system."