BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 24 89R17954 CMO-D By: Campbell et al. Education K-16 3/11/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Polling data from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation1 and YouGov2 shows a concerning trend: while 81 percent of Americans view communism unfavorably, and 59 percent hold negative views of socialism, younger generations are increasingly receptive to collectivist ideologies. This suggests a critical failure in historical education, leaving students inadequately informed about the oppressive nature and human rights abuses committed under communist regimes. To address this educational gap, S.B. 24 requires Texas schools provide a comprehensive education on the history, tactics, and consequences of communism. This includes examining historical events such as the Venezuelan Crisis (2010Present), the Cultural Revolution in China (19661976), and Cubas Communist Regime (1959Present), as well as incorporating victim testimonies. By contrasting these regimes with the founding principles of the United States, S.B. 24 aims to foster critical thinking and counter the normalization of communism. The intent of S.B. 24 is to ensure a factual and comprehensive education on communist atrocities, offering a balanced comparison with American principles and preventing ideological indoctrination through the use of well-documented historical evidence. Committee Substitute. 1. Changes the grade level requirement from K-12th to 4th grade to 12th. 2. Shifts the deadline for developing and publishing curriculum standards to July 31, 2026. Key Provisions 1. (CSSB24) Comprehensive Education on Communism (Section 1, Subsection h-11). Requires the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to incorporate a curriculum on communist regimes and ideologies into 4th 12th grade levels. 2. Victim Testimonies and Firsthand Accounts (Section 1, Subsection h-12). Requires the inclusion of testimonies from survivors of communist oppression through in-person lectures, videos, or written materials. 3. Comparative Analysis of Communism vs. U.S. Principles (Section 1, Subsection h-11(3)). Contrasts communist and totalitarian ideologies with the American founding principles of democracy, free enterprise, and individual rights. 4. Modern Communist Threats (Section 1, Subsection h-11(4)). Addresses ongoing global threats posed by communist governments, such as China, North Korea, and Cuba, and their impact on U.S. national security. 5. (CSSB24) SBOE Standards and Oversight (Section 3). Requires SBOE to develop and publish curriculum standards by July 31, 2026. 1 Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. (2020). Annual Poll on U.S. Attitudes Toward Socialism. Retrieved from https://victimsofcommunism.org/annual-poll/2020-annual-poll/ 2 YouGov. (2024, February 21). Would Americans choose communism or fascism?. Retrieved from https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/50737-would-americans-choose-communism-or-fascism C.S.S.B. 24 amends current law relating to the inclusion of an understanding of communist regimes and ideologies in the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for public school students. 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 28.002, Education Code, by adding Subsections (h-11) and (h-12), as follows: (h-11) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE), in adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for each grade level from grade 4 through grade 12, as appropriate, to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's understanding of communist regimes and ideologies and include age appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction with information on: (1) the history of and tactics used by communist movements in the United States; (2) historical events and atrocities attributable to communist regimes, including the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, the Holodomor, otherwise known as the Ukrainian Famine, the Soviet-era political purge known as the Great Terror, the Cambodian genocide under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, the origins and policies of the Communist Party of Cuba, communist guerrilla movements in Latin America, and the oppression and suffering experienced by people living under communist regimes, including mass murder, violent land seizures, show trials, concentration camps, forced labor, poverty, and general economic deterioration; (3) a comparative analysis of the ideologies of communism and totalitarianism contrasted with the United States' founding principles of freedom and democracy and collectivist ideologies contrasted with the United States' founding principles of individual rights, merit-based advancement, and free enterprise; (4) modern threats to the United States and its allies posed by communist regimes and ideologies; (5) common economic, industrial, and political events that historically precede communist revolutions; (6) the evolution of communist ideologies from economic, class-based theories into broader cultural movements that divide societies and maintain collective control over individual rights; (7) common historical and modern methods used to spread communist ideologies, including propaganda, public shaming tactics, censorship, and forced conformity; and (8) first-person accounts, in the form of in-person, video-recorded, or written testimony, from the victims of communist regimes. (h-12) Provides that SBOE, in adopting the essential knowledge and skills required under Subsection (h-11): (1) is required to adopt and publish standards for the required instruction; (2) is required to seek input from victims of communism willing to share their first-person accounts and nationally recognized organizations dedicated to commemorating victims of communism; and (3) is authorized to incorporate material from existing educational programs that provide instruction on the topic of communist regimes and ideologies, if the material meets the standards adopted by SBOE under Subdivision (1). SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20262027 school year. SECTION 3. Requires SBOE, not later than July 31, 2026, to review and revise, as needed, the essential knowledge and skills of the social studies curriculum as required by Section 28.002(h-11), Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 24
89R17954 CMO-D By: Campbell et al.
Education K-16
3/11/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 24
89R17954 CMO-D
By: Campbell et al.
Education K-16
3/11/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Polling data from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation1 and YouGov2 shows a concerning trend: while 81 percent of Americans view communism unfavorably, and 59 percent hold negative views of socialism, younger generations are increasingly receptive to collectivist ideologies. This suggests a critical failure in historical education, leaving students inadequately informed about the oppressive nature and human rights abuses committed under communist regimes.
To address this educational gap, S.B. 24 requires Texas schools provide a comprehensive education on the history, tactics, and consequences of communism. This includes examining historical events such as the Venezuelan Crisis (2010Present), the Cultural Revolution in China (19661976), and Cubas Communist Regime (1959Present), as well as incorporating victim testimonies. By contrasting these regimes with the founding principles of the United States, S.B. 24 aims to foster critical thinking and counter the normalization of communism.
The intent of S.B. 24 is to ensure a factual and comprehensive education on communist atrocities, offering a balanced comparison with American principles and preventing ideological indoctrination through the use of well-documented historical evidence.
Committee Substitute.
1. Changes the grade level requirement from K-12th to 4th grade to 12th.
2. Shifts the deadline for developing and publishing curriculum standards to July 31, 2026.
Key Provisions
1. (CSSB24) Comprehensive Education on Communism (Section 1, Subsection h-11). Requires the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to incorporate a curriculum on communist regimes and ideologies into 4th 12th grade levels.
2. Victim Testimonies and Firsthand Accounts (Section 1, Subsection h-12). Requires the inclusion of testimonies from survivors of communist oppression through in-person lectures, videos, or written materials.
3. Comparative Analysis of Communism vs. U.S. Principles (Section 1, Subsection h-11(3)). Contrasts communist and totalitarian ideologies with the American founding principles of democracy, free enterprise, and individual rights.
4. Modern Communist Threats (Section 1, Subsection h-11(4)). Addresses ongoing global threats posed by communist governments, such as China, North Korea, and Cuba, and their impact on U.S. national security.
5. (CSSB24) SBOE Standards and Oversight (Section 3). Requires SBOE to develop and publish curriculum standards by July 31, 2026.
1 Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. (2020). Annual Poll on U.S. Attitudes Toward Socialism. Retrieved from https://victimsofcommunism.org/annual-poll/2020-annual-poll/
2 YouGov. (2024, February 21). Would Americans choose communism or fascism?. Retrieved from https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/50737-would-americans-choose-communism-or-fascism
C.S.S.B. 24 amends current law relating to the inclusion of an understanding of communist regimes and ideologies in the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for public school students.
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 28.002, Education Code, by adding Subsections (h-11) and (h-12), as follows:
(h-11) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE), in adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for each grade level from grade 4 through grade 12, as appropriate, to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's understanding of communist regimes and ideologies and include age appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction with information on:
(1) the history of and tactics used by communist movements in the United States;
(2) historical events and atrocities attributable to communist regimes, including the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, the Holodomor, otherwise known as the Ukrainian Famine, the Soviet-era political purge known as the Great Terror, the Cambodian genocide under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, the origins and policies of the Communist Party of Cuba, communist guerrilla movements in Latin America, and the oppression and suffering experienced by people living under communist regimes, including mass murder, violent land seizures, show trials, concentration camps, forced labor, poverty, and general economic deterioration;
(3) a comparative analysis of the ideologies of communism and totalitarianism contrasted with the United States' founding principles of freedom and democracy and collectivist ideologies contrasted with the United States' founding principles of individual rights, merit-based advancement, and free enterprise;
(4) modern threats to the United States and its allies posed by communist regimes and ideologies;
(5) common economic, industrial, and political events that historically precede communist revolutions;
(6) the evolution of communist ideologies from economic, class-based theories into broader cultural movements that divide societies and maintain collective control over individual rights;
(7) common historical and modern methods used to spread communist ideologies, including propaganda, public shaming tactics, censorship, and forced conformity; and
(8) first-person accounts, in the form of in-person, video-recorded, or written testimony, from the victims of communist regimes.
(h-12) Provides that SBOE, in adopting the essential knowledge and skills required under Subsection (h-11):
(1) is required to adopt and publish standards for the required instruction;
(2) is required to seek input from victims of communism willing to share their first-person accounts and nationally recognized organizations dedicated to commemorating victims of communism; and
(3) is authorized to incorporate material from existing educational programs that provide instruction on the topic of communist regimes and ideologies, if the material meets the standards adopted by SBOE under Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20262027 school year.
SECTION 3. Requires SBOE, not later than July 31, 2026, to review and revise, as needed, the essential knowledge and skills of the social studies curriculum as required by Section 28.002(h-11), Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.