| 1 | 1 | | 89R1965 CMO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 474 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a policy adopted by a school district regarding the |
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| 10 | 10 | | wearing of attire and regalia at certain public school events. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 25.905 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 25.905. POLICY REGARDING STUDENT ATTIRE AND REGALIA AT |
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| 15 | 15 | | CERTAIN SCHOOL EVENTS. (a) The board of trustees of each school |
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| 16 | 16 | | district shall adopt a policy regarding attire and regalia that may |
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| 17 | 17 | | be worn by students at graduation ceremonies and other official |
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| 18 | 18 | | school events in the district. The policy: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) must establish a process by which the district |
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| 20 | 20 | | approves attire and regalia worn by students at a graduation |
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| 21 | 21 | | ceremony, including the specific criteria required for approval; |
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| 22 | 22 | | and |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) may not prohibit a student from wearing culturally |
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| 24 | 24 | | significant or academic attire or regalia at a graduation ceremony |
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| 25 | 25 | | or other official school event unless the attire or regalia: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (A) poses a safety risk; or |
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| 27 | 27 | | (B) impairs the student's vision or mobility. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) In this section, "culturally significant or academic |
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| 29 | 29 | | attire or regalia" includes cords or stoles that signify the |
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| 30 | 30 | | student's: |
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| 31 | 31 | | (1) cultural heritage; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) membership in an honor society; or |
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| 33 | 33 | | (3) affiliation with a student organization. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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| 35 | 35 | | school year. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 37 | 37 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 38 | 38 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 39 | 39 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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