89R15266 RAL-D
By: Lowe H.B. No. 4208
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to including fetal development instruction as part of the
required health curriculum for public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (r-2) to read as follows:
(r-2) The State Board of Education shall by rule require
students to receive fetal development instruction, including the
humanity of the unborn child and the concept that life begins at
fertilization, as part of the essential knowledge and skills for
the health curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B) at appropriate
grade levels. The instruction must include:
(1) information on:
(A) the human reproductive process, pregnancy,
and infertility; and
(B) the prevention of birth defects, including
information on the effect of drugs, alcohol, and environmental
hazards such as lead;
(2) a description of the growth and development of an
unborn child that occur during each trimester of pregnancy;
(3) to the extent the videos are publicly available, a
showing of the following:
(A) LiveAction, Meet Baby Olivia (2025);
(B) St. John Paul II Life Center, A Glimpse
Inside (2025); and (2025); and
(C) "The Miracle of Life," NOVA (PBS Feb. 15,
1983); and
(4) the informational materials described by Section
171.014, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 2. Section 28.004(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The local school health advisory council's duties
include recommending:
(1) the number of hours of instruction to be provided
in:
(A) health education in kindergarten through
grade eight; and
(B) if the school district requires health
education for high school graduation, health education, including
physical health education and mental health education, in grades 9
through 12;
(2) policies, procedures, strategies, and curriculum
appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent physical
health concerns, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2
diabetes, and mental health concerns, including suicide, through
coordination of:
(A) health education, which must address
physical health concerns and mental health concerns to ensure the
integration of physical health education and mental health
education;
(B) physical education and physical activity;
(C) nutrition services;
(D) parental involvement;
(E) instruction on substance abuse prevention;
(F) school health services, including mental
health services;
(G) a comprehensive school counseling program
under Section 33.005;
(H) a safe and healthy school environment; and
(I) school employee wellness;
(3) appropriate grade levels and methods of
instruction for human sexuality instruction;
(4) strategies for integrating the curriculum
components specified by Subdivision (2) with the following elements
in a coordinated school health program for the district:
(A) school health services, including physical
health services and mental health services, if provided at a campus
by the district or by a third party under a contract with the
district;
(B) a comprehensive school counseling program
under Section 33.005;
(C) a safe and healthy school environment; and
(D) school employee wellness;
(5) if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies
for collaboration between the school district and community
organizations or agencies;
(6) strategies to increase parental awareness
regarding:
(A) risky behaviors and early warning signs of
suicide risks and behavioral health concerns, including mental
health disorders and substance use disorders; and
(B) available community programs and services
that address risky behaviors, suicide risks, and behavioral health
concerns;
(7) appropriate grade levels and curriculum for
instruction regarding the dangers of opioids, including
instruction on:
(A) opioid addiction and abuse, including
addiction to and abuse of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl; and
(B) methods of administering an opioid
antagonist, as defined by Section 483.101, Health and Safety Code;
[and]
(8) appropriate grade levels and curriculum for
instruction regarding child abuse, family violence, dating
violence, and sex trafficking, including likely warning signs that
a child may be at risk for sex trafficking, provided that the local
school health advisory council's recommendations under this
subdivision do not conflict with the essential knowledge and skills
developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter;
and
(9) appropriate curriculum for the fetal development
instruction described by Section 28.002(r-2), provided that the
local school health advisory council's recommendations under this
subdivision do not conflict with the essential knowledge and skills
developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.