BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 204 89R16581 MEW-D By: Paxton Education K-16 2/26/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, the rights of parents and guardians regarding their children's education are in numerous chapters of the Texas Education Code, Health and Safety Code, and Code of Federal Regulations. The various places parental rights are found in Texas statutes presents navigational challenges for parents who may be unaware of their rights. Even if the relevant statute is found, the right may not be easily discernable since they are not always written in plain language, creating further difficulty for a concerned parent to determine if one's rights have been violated. To empower parents, this bill creates an easily accessible, plain-language, searchable online handbook as one centralized place to find parental rights to provide the most convenience and clarity for parents. Additionally, this bill mandates school board members to receive specific training on parents' rights to help ensure that these rights are respected. The committee substitute makes revisions to the implementation dates of the bill to better align with the SBOE's meeting cycles. C.S.S.B. 204 amends current law relating to a handbook on parental rights in education and training requirements on parental rights in education for a member of the board of trustees of a school district. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.159, Education Code, by adding Subsection (b-2), as follows: (b-2) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to require a trustee to complete training on the rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent's child. Requires SBOE, with assistance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), to develop the curriculum and materials for the training. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.0025, as follows: Sec. 26.0025. PARENTAL RIGHTS HANDBOOK. (a) Requires TEA to create and maintain a handbook that explains all rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent's child, including a student's rights that the parent is authorized to enforce on the student's behalf. (b) Requires that the handbook meet certain criteria. SECTION 3. (a) Requires TEA, not later than January 1, 2026, to create the parental rights in education handbook required by Section 26.0025, Education Code, as added by this Act. (b) Requires SBOE, not later than April 1, 2026, to develop and make available the training required by Section 11.159(b-2), Education Code, as added by this Act. (c) Requires a member of the board of trustees of a school district who takes the oath of office before January 1, 2026, to complete the training on parental rights in education required by Section 11.159(b-2), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 204
89R16581 MEW-D By: Paxton
Education K-16
2/26/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 204
89R16581 MEW-D
By: Paxton
Education K-16
2/26/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the rights of parents and guardians regarding their children's education are in numerous chapters of the Texas Education Code, Health and Safety Code, and Code of Federal Regulations. The various places parental rights are found in Texas statutes presents navigational challenges for parents who may be unaware of their rights. Even if the relevant statute is found, the right may not be easily discernable since they are not always written in plain language, creating further difficulty for a concerned parent to determine if one's rights have been violated.
To empower parents, this bill creates an easily accessible, plain-language, searchable online handbook as one centralized place to find parental rights to provide the most convenience and clarity for parents.
Additionally, this bill mandates school board members to receive specific training on parents' rights to help ensure that these rights are respected.
The committee substitute makes revisions to the implementation dates of the bill to better align with the SBOE's meeting cycles.
C.S.S.B. 204 amends current law relating to a handbook on parental rights in education and training requirements on parental rights in education for a member of the board of trustees of a school district.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.159, Education Code, by adding Subsection (b-2), as follows:
(b-2) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to require a trustee to complete training on the rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent's child. Requires SBOE, with assistance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), to develop the curriculum and materials for the training.
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.0025, as follows:
Sec. 26.0025. PARENTAL RIGHTS HANDBOOK. (a) Requires TEA to create and maintain a handbook that explains all rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent's child, including a student's rights that the parent is authorized to enforce on the student's behalf.
(b) Requires that the handbook meet certain criteria.
SECTION 3. (a) Requires TEA, not later than January 1, 2026, to create the parental rights in education handbook required by Section 26.0025, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Requires SBOE, not later than April 1, 2026, to develop and make available the training required by Section 11.159(b-2), Education Code, as added by this Act.
(c) Requires a member of the board of trustees of a school district who takes the oath of office before January 1, 2026, to complete the training on parental rights in education required by Section 11.159(b-2), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.