TX
Texas House Bill HB4183

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4183

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to a prohibition on instruction regarding abortion in public schools; creating a criminal offense.

Impact

If passed, HB4183 would require systematic changes in Texas' Education Code by adding Section 28.0201. The new law would take effect beginning with the 2025-2026 school year for most provisions, although some provisions related to teacher misconduct would only apply to conduct occurring after September 1, 2025. This legislation could reshape the educational landscape by limiting the scope of discussions teachers can have regarding abortion, altering how reproductive health education content is delivered in schools.

Summary

House Bill 4183 seeks to prohibit the instruction regarding abortion in public schools throughout Texas. The bill stipulates that teachers are not allowed to provide any information or resources related to abortion to students. This extends to activities such as referring students to organizations that promote abortion services or engaging in discussions that normalize abortion. Violations of this prohibition would result in significant repercussions for teachers, including classification of the act as a Class A misdemeanor and mandatory termination of employment for offending teachers.

Contention

The bill has sparked significant debate around issues of censorship and educational freedom. Proponents argue that the bill protects students from potentially harmful information and aligns educational content with certain moral values. Conversely, opponents view it as an infringement on academic freedom and parental choice, stating that it limits critical discussions around reproductive health and denies students access to comprehensive education. The bill thus raises broader questions about the role of educators and the nature of curriculum content permissible in public schools.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

  • Chapter 28. Courses Of Study; Advancement
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB890

Relating to parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials.

TX SB77

Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials.

TX SB8

Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.

TX HB5261

Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.

TX HB4252

Relating to certain public school instructional requirements and prohibitions.

TX SB393

Relating to parental rights in public education and prohibiting instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity for public school students; authorizing a civil remedy.

TX SB2565

Relating to instructional material and technology, the adoption of essential knowledge and skills for certain public school foundation curriculum subjects, and creating allotments for the procurement of certain instructional materials under the Foundation School Program; authorizing a fee.

TX HB1541

Relating to parental rights in public education and prohibiting certain instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity; authorizing a civil penalty.

TX SB9

Relating to the rights and certification of public school educators, including financial and other assistance and waivers provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators, methods of instruction provided in public schools, and certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.

TX HB1605

Relating to instructional material and technology, the adoption of essential knowledge and skills for certain public school foundation curriculum subjects, and the extension of additional state aid to school districts for the provision of certain instructional materials; authorizing a fee.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.