BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2674 By: Cook Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that homeschooling has long been upheld as a legitimate and effective educational option for Texas families seeking flexibility, individualized instruction, and greater involvement in their children's education. In Texas, homeschools are treated as private schools and are therefore exempt from regulation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), aside from meeting minimal academic standards. The bill author has informed the committee that while this hands-off approach has allowed homeschooling to thrive and empowered parents to tailor learning to their children's unique needs and values, homeschooling advocates have grown increasingly concerned about potential overreach by executive agencies. H.B. 2674 seeks to codify protections already reflected in current TEA practice to safeguard parental rights and prevent future administrative attempts to impose unwarranted regulation on homeschool families. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2674 amends the Education Code to prohibit the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, and any state-funded educational institution, unless specifically excluded by other state law, from making any rule that has the effect of increasing regulation of a general elementary or secondary education program in which a student predominantly receives instruction provided by the parent, or a person standing in parental authority, in or through the child's home. H.B. 2674 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2674
By: Cook
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2674
By: Cook
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that homeschooling has long been upheld as a legitimate and effective educational option for Texas families seeking flexibility, individualized instruction, and greater involvement in their children's education. In Texas, homeschools are treated as private schools and are therefore exempt from regulation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), aside from meeting minimal academic standards. The bill author has informed the committee that while this hands-off approach has allowed homeschooling to thrive and empowered parents to tailor learning to their children's unique needs and values, homeschooling advocates have grown increasingly concerned about potential overreach by executive agencies. H.B. 2674 seeks to codify protections already reflected in current TEA practice to safeguard parental rights and prevent future administrative attempts to impose unwarranted regulation on homeschool families.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2674 amends the Education Code to prohibit the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, and any state-funded educational institution, unless specifically excluded by other state law, from making any rule that has the effect of increasing regulation of a general elementary or secondary education program in which a student predominantly receives instruction provided by the parent, or a person standing in parental authority, in or through the child's home. H.B. 2674 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that homeschooling has long been upheld as a legitimate and effective educational option for Texas families seeking flexibility, individualized instruction, and greater involvement in their children's education. In Texas, homeschools are treated as private schools and are therefore exempt from regulation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), aside from meeting minimal academic standards. The bill author has informed the committee that while this hands-off approach has allowed homeschooling to thrive and empowered parents to tailor learning to their children's unique needs and values, homeschooling advocates have grown increasingly concerned about potential overreach by executive agencies. H.B. 2674 seeks to codify protections already reflected in current TEA practice to safeguard parental rights and prevent future administrative attempts to impose unwarranted regulation on homeschool families.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2674 amends the Education Code to prohibit the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, and any state-funded educational institution, unless specifically excluded by other state law, from making any rule that has the effect of increasing regulation of a general elementary or secondary education program in which a student predominantly receives instruction provided by the parent, or a person standing in parental authority, in or through the child's home.
H.B. 2674 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.