The Senate Education K-16 Committee announced a hearing for 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, to hear invited and public testimony on the following bills:
SB 207 Paxton – Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.The proposed bill seeks to amend Section 25.087 of the Education Code by introducing critical changes concerning excused absences from public school. The major addition is the provision that allows students to be excused for temporary absences resulting from appointments with health care professionals, specifically including mental health care providers. This change aims to acknowledge and support the mental health needs of students, thereby promoting their overall well-being. The bill outlines that a student will be excused if they commence classes or return to school the same day as their health care appointment. In addition to mental health appointments, the existing reasons for excused absences remain, which include observing religious holy days, attending court appearances, and participating in activities related to the Department of Family and Protective Services. The bill is set to take effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year, should it receive the requisite support for immediate implementation; otherwise, its enforcement will begin on September 1, 2025. The bill reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental health awareness and treatment in the educational landscape, presenting a more inclusive approach to student absenteeism.
SB 611 Hinojosa – Relating to a statewide standing order prescribing epinephrine auto-injectors to public and privates schools.This bill establishes a statewide standing order for epinephrine auto injectors, enhancing emergency treatment options for schools across Texas. It amends Section 38.211 of the Education Code by adding Subsection (b-1), definitively allowing the commissioner of state health services or the chief medical executive (if the commissioner is not a physician) to prescribe these auto-injectors for use in both public and private educational institutions. This authorization reflects a proactive approach to managing severe allergic reactions within school settings, ensuring that students have timely access to necessary medical interventions. Moreover, the bill stipulates that the standing order, whether under Subsection (b) or (b-1), does not have to be patient specific. This is significant because it removes the barrier of needing a physician-patient relationship, thus enabling schools to act swiftly in administering epinephrine to students in need without delay. The legislative intent behind these provisions is to improve student safety by ensuring that effective measures are in place for managing allergic emergencies in educational environments. The bill will be effective immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote in both legislative houses or will take effect on September 1, 2025, if such consensus is not reached.
SB 920 Sparks – Relating to the administration of medication by open enrollment charter schools, private schools, and school employees.This bill outlines provisions related to the administration of medication by employees of open-enrollment charter schools and private schools in Texas. It amends Section 22.052 of the Education Code to extend civil liability immunity and protection from administrative disciplinary action for both school employees and governing boards when medications are administered under stipulated conditions. The administration must adhere to the guidelines of receiving a written request for medication from a parent or guardian and ensuring proper labeling during the administration process. The bill also establishes a new section, 22.0521, that explicitly applies these provisions to internet charter and private schools, reflecting the inclusivity of all educational institutions. Additionally, it allows licensed healthcare professionals who are volunteers at these schools to administer both nonprescription and prescribed medications while maintaining insurance coverage from the school. Importantly, the legislation excludes protections for instances of gross negligence, thus ensuring that serious misconduct does not escape liability. The provisions are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.
SB 1174 Alvarado – Relating to the administration of nonprescription medications to certain public and private school students.This bill amends the Texas Education Code regarding the administration of nonprescription medications in schools. The primary focus is on the responsibilities and protections of school personnel in administering medications to students. Under the updated Section 22.052, the bill emphasizes the immunity from civil liability for school districts, open enrollment charter schools, private schools, and their governing bodies when they administer medications under established policies. This encompasses both prescription and nonprescription medications. Key provisions allow for school employees, particularly nurses, to administer nonprescription medications without requiring additional authorization from a student’s healthcare provider, under specific conditions such as receiving a written request from a parent or guardian and ensuring that the medication is unexpired and properly labeled. The bill also revises the definition of professional nursing to explicitly include the administration of nonprescription medications within school settings. The changes outlined in this legislation are set to take effect at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year or immediately if a two-thirds vote is achieved.
SB 1207 King, Phil – Relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity awareness program in public schools.This bill amends Sections 28.002(p) and (p-2) of the Education Code to enhance the parenting and paternity awareness program taught in public schools. It charges the State Board of Education and the office of the attorney general with the task of developing this program for high school health curriculums and allows its use in middle or junior high curricula. In a significant change, the program is now required to include information on adoption, which covers the differences between private adoption and foster care, the adoption process, and the concept of adoption as an alternative to parenthood. Some previously listed curriculum topics, such as the prevention of family violence, have been restructured but largely maintained. Subsection (p-2) has been updated to allow school districts to create or adopt tailored, research-based curriculum materials that also encompass the new adoption information introduced. Finally, this act sets implementation to begin with the 2025- 2026 school year and provides for immediate effect contingent on legislative approval, otherwise taking effect on September 1, 2025.
SB 1325 Johnson, Nathan – Relating to the provision of medication for respiratory distress in public and private schools.This bill relates to the provision of medication for respiratory distress within public and private educational institutions in Texas. The amendments to Section 38.211 establish that the commissioner of state health services, or an appointed chief medical executive, is empowered to issue a statewide standing order for medications addressing respiratory distress for use in school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Notably, this order does not require it to be specific to individual patients, which means that medications such as epinephrine auto-injectors can be administered in emergencies without the need for an established physician patient relationship. Furthermore, the addition of Section 38.2115 allows school boards to contract with vendors to supply both necessary respiratory distress medications and the required equipment and also mandates training for school personnel and volunteers who will be administering these medications. This training ensures that authorized individuals are adequately prepared to respond in crisis situations, reinforcing the safety and health standards within the educational environment. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving the necessary legislative approval or on September 1, 2025, if such approval is not obtained.
SB 1396 Hall, Bob – Relating to prohibiting the adoption or use of national sexuality education standards in public schools. This bill seeks to prohibit the adoption and implementation of national sexuality education standards and common core state standards in Texas public schools. It does this by creating definitions for both terms for clarity in the law and asserting that the State Board of Education is restricted from adopting either set of standards to fulfill any obligations outlined in the Education Code. Furthermore, the legislation emphasizes the autonomy of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, indicating that they are not mandated to implement any components of the aforementioned standards. In section 28.004(e), the bill introduces additional clarity to the required course materials and teaching methods related to human sexuality, mandating that these must focus on abstinence and cannot be based on any national sexuality education standards. The provisions of this act will be enforced starting with the 2025-2026 school year, ensuring that Texas schools adhere to these new guidelines while prioritizing abstinence and avoiding influence from national education frameworks. The act can take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote in both legislative houses; otherwise, it will commence on September 1, 2025.
SB 1551 Cook – Relating to the availability of automated external defibrillators at public schools.The bill aims to enhance the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at public school campuses across Texas, recognizing the essential role these devices play in emergencies, particularly during athletic activities. Section 38.017(a) of the Education Code is amended to require each school district to ensure that at least one AED is readily accessible at each campus during any University Interscholastic League (UIL) athletic competition. When determining the placement of the AED, principals must consider the primary locations where students engage in athletic activities and ensure that these devices are in clearly marked and accessible areas. Significantly, AEDs cannot be stored in locked cases when school employees or students are on campus, enhancing their immediate availability in emergency situations. Additionally, the bill establishes a deadline: by the first instructional day of the 2026-2027 school year, each public school must meet these requirements. This act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two thirds vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will be effective starting September 1, 2025.
SB 1619 Zaffirini – Relating to the use of an epinephrine delivery device by certain entities.This bill expands and clarifies regulations surrounding the maintenance and administration of epinephrine delivery devices in Texas, ensuring that educational institutions and various entities are prepared to handle cases of anaphylaxis effectively. It amends multiple sections of the Education Code, Health and Safety Code, and others, replacing the term auto-injectors with the broader term epinephrine delivery devices. The bill specifies definitions, establishing epinephrine delivery device to include both auto-injectors and nasal sprays. It requires that all school districts and other educational entities develop and implement policies for the maintenance, administration, and disposal of these devices. Training for school and institutional personnel is mandated, ensuring individuals are equipped to recognize anaphylaxis symptoms and administer epinephrine correctly. It includes a requirement for entities to report the administration of devices to the appropriate authorities within a specified timeframe. By granting immunity to personnel authorized to administer these devices, the bill aims to encourage preparedness and response to anaphylactic emergencies without fear of legal repercussions. Overall, the revisions aim to enhance public health safety in Texas across numerous settings where individuals may encounter such medical emergencies.
