# Texas SB 12: Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools. Texas SB 12, Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brandon Creighton (Republican), Jeff Leach; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective on 9/1/25) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB12-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 12 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-24 - Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective on 9/1/25 - Sponsors: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Jeff Leach - Cosponsors: 10 - Subjects: Civil Remedies & Liabilities, Disabilities, Persons with, Education--Primary & Secondary--Charter Schools, Education--Primary & Secondary--Curriculum, Education--Primary & Secondary--Discipline, Education--Primary & Secondary--Facilities, Education--Primary & Secondary--Finance, Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel, Education--Primary & Secondary--Private, Education--Primary & Secondary--Teachers, Education--Primary & Secondary--Textbooks, Education--School Districts, Electronic Information Systems, Family--Parent & Child, Health--Privacy/Use of Information, Human Relations, Minors--Health & Safety, BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS & VOICEPRINTS, DISCRIMINATION, GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT & MATERIALS, PARENTAL CONSENT, PARENTAL NOTIFICATION, PARENTAL RIGHTS, TRANSFER STUDENTS, EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS, EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF, EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF, EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION, STATE BOARD FOR - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 18 (991 yes, 808 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Parents gain clearer school complaint rights: benefit, medium. Districts must provide complaint reviews and appeals for violations of parental rights, board policies, or education law. Procedures must bar retaliation, require conflicted reviewers to step aside, preserve records, allow supplemental claims, and provide reasoned decisions. Parents have at least 6… - Parents gain records and crime notices: benefit, medium. Parents can access all written district records about their child, including library checkout records. Medical record access follows Education Code Section 38.0095. Parents are entitled to full information about school activities, subject to Section 38.004. Districts must notify parents within one… - Parents gain stronger education decision rights: benefit, medium. The law protects parents' choices about their child's moral and religious training, education, and medical or mental health treatment. Parents can choose public school, private school, or home school; this provision provides no payment or subsidy. Government interference must serve a compelling sta… - Parents get more school involvement options: benefit, medium. Districts must plan for parent involvement, support at least one parent-teacher group per school, and explain parental rights at enrollment and annually. They must offer at least two in-person parent-teacher conference opportunities each school year. Districts must provide an online comment portal,… - Parents receive student health service updates: benefit, medium. The Texas Education Agency must require districts to notify parents about changes in their child's health-related services or monitoring. Schools must support parent-child discussions and cannot block record access or discourage parents' involvement in critical health decisions. Disclosure is not r… - Schools face limits on gender-related lessons: cost, high. Districts, charter schools, and their employees cannot provide lessons, guidance, activities, or programs about sexual orientation or gender identity. They also cannot allow third parties to provide them to prekindergarten–12th-grade students. Exceptions preserve protected student expression that d… - Frivolous school cases risk legal fees: cost, low. People bringing state-law civil or administrative cases against independent school districts or their officers risk paying legal costs. An authorized decision-maker can award costs and reasonable attorney fees only if the case is frivolous, unreasonable, and without foundation. The case must also b… - Parents must approve human sexuality lessons: mixed, high. Districts must get a parent's written consent before a student receives human sexuality instruction. The consent request must arrive at least 14 days before instruction starts. It must be separate from other notices or consent requests, except the related notice under Education Code Section 28.004(… - Parents control more school health activities: mixed, medium. District employees and contractors must get signed parental consent for covered mental health exams or treatment, recordings, and health care. Consent also covers medication, medical procedures, health-information disclosures, and biometric data handling; students cannot participate without require… - Schools must bar social transition assistance: mixed, medium. District boards must bar employees from helping enrolled students socially transition, including by providing information or guidelines. Parents and district employees can report suspected violations, and boards must investigate. Confirmed violations must be reported immediately to the education co… - Charter parent rights expand; exemptions narrow: mixed, medium. Open-enrollment charter schools must follow requirements for parent engagement and access to information about students' health needs and school services. They must also follow applicable health education and local school health advisory council requirements. Districts cannot claim exemptions from… - Schools must limit diversity-related staff duties: mixed, medium. Districts cannot assign diversity, equity, and inclusion duties or allow employees, contractors, or volunteers to perform them. Activities required by state or federal law remain allowed. Listed exceptions cover antidiscrimination compliance, historically Black college recruitment, certain contract… - Schools face discipline and public certifications: mixed, low. Public schools, governing bodies, and employees must follow every policy that law requires schools to adopt. Districts and charter schools must set discipline procedures, including possible termination, for knowing or intentional violations of Section 28.0022 or directing others to violate it. Empl… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Jeff Leach, House - Cosponsor: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brian Birdwell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Donna Campbell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryan Hughes (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Phil King (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Angela Paxton (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kevin Sparks (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-31 | House | Record vote | pass | 77 | 40 | | | 2025-05-31 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-05-25 | House | Record vote | pass | 85 | 48 | | | 2025-05-25 | House | Record vote | pass | 88 | 47 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 85 | 50 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 50 | 85 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 82 | 48 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 50 | 84 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 49 | 83 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 51 | 82 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 50 | 83 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 132 | 2 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 83 | 48 | | | 2025-05-24 | House | Record vote | pass | 49 | 75 | | | 2025-03-19 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-03-19 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | | 2025-03-19 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-03-19 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 20 | 11 | | ## Actions (133) - 2025-06-20: Effective on 9/1/25 (House) - 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-06-03: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-06-02: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-06-02: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-06-01: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-31: House adopts conf. comm. report-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-31: Record vote (RV#4119) (House) - 2025-05-31: House adopts conference committee report (House) - 2025-05-31: Point of order overruled (Rule 8,Section 1(a)(1)) (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported (House) - 2025-05-31: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Senate adopts conference committee report (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Conf. Comm. Report distributed (House) - 2025-05-30: Conference committee report filed (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House appoints conferees-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House grants request for conf comm-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House appoints conferees (House) - 2025-05-29: House grants request for conference committee (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate appoints conferees-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate requests conference committee-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate refuses to concur-reported (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate appoints conferees (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Senate requests conference committee (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Senate refuses to concur (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Read (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-26: House passage as amended reported (Senate) - 2025-05-25: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-25: Record vote (RV#3506) (House) - 2025-05-25: Passed (House) - 2025-05-25: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-25: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-25: Record vote (RV#3499) (House) - 2025-05-25: Passed to 3rd reading as amended (House) - 2025-05-25: Point of order overruled (Rule 8, Section 3) (House) - 2025-05-25: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3498) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amended (12-Toth) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment withdrawn (10-Schoolcraft) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (amendment) (Rule 11, Section 8(b)) (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3497) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment to amendment fails of adoption (11-Turner) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (amendment) (Rule 11, Section 3) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment(s) offered (10-Schoolcraft) (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3496) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amended (9-Schatzline, Toth, Cain, Harrison, Hopper, Richardson, Holt, Schoolcraft, Money, Olcott, ...) (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3495) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment fails of adoption (8-Dutton) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment withdrawn (7-Toth) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (amendment) (Rule 11, Section 2) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment(s) offered (7-Toth, Schatzline, Money, Richardson, Virdell, Alders, Tinderholt, Cain, Swanson, Schofield, ...) (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3494) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amended (6-Money) (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3493) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment fails of adoption (5-Manuel) (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3492) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment fails of adoption (4-Bowers) (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3491) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment fails of adoption (3-J. Garcia) (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3490) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amendment fails of adoption (2-J. González) (House) - 2025-05-24: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-24: Record vote (RV#3489) (House) - 2025-05-24: Amended (1-Leach) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (Rule 4, Section 32(c)(2)) (House) - 2025-05-24: Point of order withdrawn (Rule 4, Section 18(b), and Rule 4, Section 32(b)(10)) (House) - 2025-05-24: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-24: Placed on General State Calendar (House) - 2025-05-22: Considered in Calendars (House) - 2025-05-22: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-05-22: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-05-22: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-05-21: Reported favorably as substituted (House) - 2025-05-21: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-21: Vote reconsidered in committee (House) - 2025-05-21: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-05-16: Reported favorably as substituted (House) - 2025-05-16: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-16: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-05-13: Left pending in committee (House) - 2025-05-13: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House) - 2025-05-13: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-13: Considered in public hearing (House) - 2025-05-13: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House) - 2025-04-22: Referred to Public Education (House) - 2025-04-22: Read first time (House) - 2025-03-20: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-03-19: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Passed (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amended (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amendment(s) offered (FA3 Hughes) (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amended (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amendment(s) offered (FA2 Hughes) (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amended (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Creighton) (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Point of order withdrawn (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Point of order (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Placed on intent calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Left pending in committee (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Referred to Education K-16 (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Read first time (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Filed (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00012S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00012S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB12-89R (as of 2026-10-19).