Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Texas public schools will begin the 2025–2026 academic year under a host of new state laws affecting student conduct, curriculum, religious displays, library content, and school safety. Enacted during the 89th Texas Legislature, these laws reflect significant shifts in policy and culture across the state’s K–12 education system.
One of the most notable changes is the statewide ban on personal communication devices. House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cell phones, smartwatches, and similar devices during the school day on campus. According to the Texas Education Agency, districts must adopt written policies by September 18, 2025.
Another law generating national attention is Senate Bill 10, which mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The law, effective September 1, 2025, requires a 16-by-20-inch poster with legible type. Supporters of the law argue it reflects Texas’s cultural heritage. “This is part of our historical tradition,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Critics, however, view the mandate as a constitutional challenge. The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups have suggested legal action may follow.
Curriculum and content oversight are also changing. Senate Bill 12 bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools and restricts instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. Paired with Senate Bill 13, which increases local control over school library materials, these laws aim to limit what legislators describe as “politicized content.” Books containing “sexual or profane content” may be removed, and local school boards must approve acquisitions.
Student discipline policies have also been revised under House Bill 6. In-school suspensions can now last more than three days, pending administrative review every ten days. Out-of-school suspensions are authorized for students with repeated disruptive behavior. The bill also softens penalties for first-time vaping offenses. “This gives administrators more tools to maintain order while still addressing student behavior constructively,” said Rep. Harold Dutton.
In the realm of academics, House Bill 27 mandates financial literacy instruction for high school students. The new curriculum will include budgeting, credit, investing, and economic fundamentals. The Texas Association of School Boards praised the bill, noting that “personal finance education is a critical life skill that too many students currently lack.”
Senate Bill 207 ensures that student absences for mental health appointments—either for themselves or their children—are treated like any physical health-related absence. Advocates say this marks a turning point for student well-being. “This law finally places mental health on equal footing,” said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who co-authored the bill.
To improve student nutrition, Senate Bill 314 bans certain additives from meals served through federally subsidized school meal programs. Ingredients such as brominated vegetable oil, red 40, titanium dioxide, and potassium bromate are no longer permitted. Supporters cite links between these chemicals and adverse health outcomes in children.
Funding for campus safety is also increasing. House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 260 double the per-student safety allotment from $10 to $20 and increase the per-campus allotment to $33,540. Districts may use these funds for security upgrades and student mental health services. TEA guidance emphasizes that these funds should “support physical safety and behavioral health interventions.”
Additional laws with broader implications for education include House Bill 229, dubbed the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” which legally defines “man” and “woman” based on biological sex in all state records, including school documents. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 20 criminalizes the possession or distribution of AI-generated or fictional depictions of minors in obscene contexts—a provision meant to combat exploitation, but one that also affects schools managing digital safety policies.
Taken together, these laws represent a significant redefinition of school governance in Texas. Some measures may face legal challenges, however, all are set to be implemented starting this fall. As school districts scramble to update their codes of conduct, curriculum plans, and classroom signage, educators and families across the state are preparing for a very different school environment in 2025.
