Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, said House Bill 4 would remove STAAR from being “the center of gravity” during the school year. The bill proposes a test taken in October, a middle-of-year assessment given around January or February and one for May.

Texas lawmakers have sought to make it easier to build more homes — and harder for neighbors to block projects.

State Rep. Brad Buckley, a Republican from Salado, said the lengthy tests don’t accurately measure knowledge and place too much pressure on students.