Note: Two bills were added to the agenda on Monday, May 19. See below.
The House Public Education Committee will begin meeting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, to hear testimony on more bills passed by the Senate:
SB 204 Paxton – The bill mandates the creation of a parental rights handbook and requires school district trustees to undergo training on parental rights. The handbook would detail parents’ rights regarding their children’s education and be updated annually.
SB 570 Bettencourt et al. – The bill mandates public schools to adopt attendance policies aimed at reducing truancy by informing students and parents about the importance of regular attendance and providing support for at-risk students. It includes measures for parental notification of absences, meetings to address attendance issues, and guidelines for identifying and assisting students needing additional support.
SB 735 Menendez et al. – The bill mandates enhanced Holocaust education in Texas public schools and higher education institutions through collaboration with Holocaust museums, reporting requirements, grant programs, and a pilot program for educator preparation.
Added to agenda on May 19:
SB 747 King – The bill relates to bullying and cyberbullying in public schools, particularly focusing on incidents involving the production or distribution of intimate visual material, including those created using AI. It mandates the development of comprehensive policies and educational programs to prevent and respond to such incidents, emphasizing student awareness, reporting mechanisms, and the legal and social consequences of these actions.
SB 784 King – The bill amends the Education Code to facilitate the transfer of public school students who are children of peace officers between districts or campuses without tuition fees and with mandatory approval from both sending and receiving districts.
Added to agenda on May 19:
SB 875 Birdwell – The bill prohibits prohibits the use of district resources for political purposes by a member of the board of trustees or superintendent of an ISD or on certain school district premises and creates criminal offenses for violations.
SB 1207 King et al. – The bill mandates the inclusion of adoption education in the parenting and paternity awareness program within public school health curriculums.
SB 1396 Hall et al. – The bill prohibits the adoption or use of national sex education standards in public schools within Texas.
SB 1447 Menendez et al. – The bill mandates TEA to establish standards for the use of electronic devices and software in public schools, emphasizing data privacy, parental consent, and cybersecurity. It includes provisions for minimizing data collection, ensuring informed parental consent, and implementing cybersecurity measures. The bill also addresses accommodations for students with disabilities and sets timelines for its implementation.
SB 2392 King – The bill mandates that school principals notify local law enforcement of specific criminal activities occurring on school property or during school-related events, with a focus on serious offenses such as those involving controlled substances, weapons, or violent crimes. It introduces a 72-hour notification requirement for certain severe offenses and specifies the applicability of these changes to incidents occurring after the bill’s effective date.
SB 2540 Nichols – The bill regulates agreements involving minor boundary adjustments between contiguous school districts, specifying terms and responsibilities for such agreements executed after January 1, 2025. It mandates the inclusion of detailed terms and explanations regarding the rights and responsibilities of the involved districts.
