(The Dallas Examiner) – During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, several bills were passed, and many are still pending the governor’s signature. There are multiple bills that may disproportionately affect African Americans in Dallas and across Texas due to social, economic and systemic factors. African Americans are more likely to feel the effects because of concentrated poverty, underfunded schools and systemic bias in public services, as noted in a report commissioned by the Dallas City Council.
Bills signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott
Senate Bill 2 authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe
This bill establishes an Education Savings Account program managed by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, with support from the Texas Education Agency. The program provides funds to cover approved education-related expenses for eligible children, such as private school tuition, tutoring, transportation and educational therapies. Priority is given to students with disabilities from low-income households. Funds are managed by certified educational assistance organizations, and parents must request payments through them. The bill includes annual private audits to ensure compliance and authorizes the comptroller to recover misused funds and report suspected fraud to legal authorities.
This bill was signed May 3 and becomes effective on Sept. 1.
Dallas ISD serves a high percentage of African American students, according to Dallas ISD Evaluation and Assessment. Many of which rely on public schools due to historical and ongoing economic disparities. Educators have expressed that diverting funds could weaken public schools by reducing resources, potentially harming the quality of education in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Senate Bill 5 authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston
The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, aimed at advancing research and innovation related to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders. DPRIT will fund grants to expand research capabilities at public and private institutions, promote prevention strategies and support the creation of high-quality jobs in Texas. The institute is authorized through September 1, 2035, and remains subject to oversight by the state auditor.
It further creates a nine-member oversight committee to govern the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, with appointments made by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker. Members must include medical or scientific experts and reflect the state’s geographic and cultural diversity. The committee oversees hiring a CEO, sets policies and distinguishes roles between leadership and staff. While members receive no compensation, they are reimbursed for official expenses. The committee must set annual grant priorities, adopt a conflict-of-interest code of conduct and ensure financial disclosure by members. It is also authorized to adopt rules for implementation.
This bill was signed May 24 and takes effect Dec. 1 if SJR 3 is approved by the voters.
African Americans face higher rates of Alzheimer’s and other dementia, often due to health care disparities, stress and chronic conditions, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Investment in research and prevention could lead to earlier diagnoses, better care strategies and community-focused support.
Pending governor’s signature or veto
House Bill 2 authored by Rep. Brad Buckley
The bill allows Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to designate classroom teachers as master, exemplary, recognized or acknowledged for a five-year term, based on single-year or multiyear performance appraisals. Teachers holding a National Board Certification may be designated as nationally board certified until Sept. 1, 2028, though this pathway is being phased out for new applicants. Additionally, the commissioner of education is required to annually identify districts and schools as enhanced Teacher Incentive Allotment systems if they implement comprehensive evaluation and support systems aligned with performance-based compensation models.
The bill authorizes the commissioner of education to designate a school district or charter school as an enhanced teacher incentive allotment system only if it has implemented a local optional teacher designation system. The commissioner may revoke this designation if the district or school no longer meets the required criteria. Additionally, the Texas Education Agency is tasked with developing and offering technical assistance to districts and charter schools seeking to implement such local designation systems, including guidance on evaluation standards and support structures.
There are 13 amendments to this bill.
Sent to the governor’s desk Monday.
House Bill 6 authored by Rep. Jeffrey Curtis Leach, R-Plano
The bill updates requirements for open-enrollment charter schools to prohibit admission discrimination based on certain characteristics while clarifying when students may be excluded due to serious disciplinary issues, criminal convictions or juvenile adjudications. It also allows exclusion from charter campuses with child care facilities based on offenses that would bar access to similar district campuses. Additionally, it strengthens protections for special education students by requiring a review committee meeting before any disciplinary action changes their educational placement. It prohibits returning a student to a teacher’s classroom without the teacher’s written consent unless a committee determines it’s the best or only option and holds a required conference.
Sent to the governor’s desk Monday.
Black students are disproportionately disciplined and placed in alternative education programs, according to studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Government of Accountability Office.
Senate Bill 12, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe
The bill amends the Education Code to revise and set out provisions relating to parental rights and transparency in public education, grievances and certain public-school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity and inclusion duties.
It prohibits public schools and state entities from infringing on fundamental parental rights – such as directing a child’s moral and religious upbringing, making educational decisions and consenting to medical or psychological treatment – unless the infringement is necessary to serve a compelling state interest such as life-saving care and is narrowly tailored using the least restrictive means.
The bill prohibits school districts and charter schools from assigning or allowing any employee, contractor or volunteer to perform diversity, equity and inclusion duties, except as required by state or federal law. It mandates that districts adopt disciplinary policies – including termination – for violations and distribute these policies to all staff.
The bill directs school districts to send the name, email address and term details – including start and end dates – of each board of trustees member to the TEA every year. It also mandates that each district’s board of trustees develop a formal parental engagement policy.
Additionally, it codifies a parent’s right to choose a public school or private school, including a home school, for the parent’s child. It clarifies that the written district records concerning a parent’s child that include health and immunization information to which the child’s parents are entitled to access include the medical records in accordance with applicable state law. Moreover, it mandates that all of a school district’s written records regarding library materials a student has checked out from a school library are accessible to parents.
Sent to the governor’s desk Tuesday.
Senate Bill 3 authored by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
The bill would ban all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol – known as THC. Retailers and recreational users would be allowed to sell and consume only the non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive cannabinoids known as CBD and CBG.
An article with more detailed was published May 29 and can be found online at https://dallasexaminer.com/category/government.
Sent to the governor’s desk May 27.
“SB 3 is a bill that would ban THC in the State of Texas, including the production, sale and possession of hemp and hemp-based products. Currently, hemp is a burgeoning industry worth over $8 billion that employs approximately 53,000 Texans,” said State Rep. Venton Jones.
I voted against SB 3 due to the detrimental economic and criminal justice effects it will have. An outright THC ban, instead of proper regulation, will increase the number of Texans in the criminal justice system, reduce jobs and limit state revenue to pay for public services. The ban will also push people to seek unregulated THC products from the black market or drug dealers, or even highly addictive and deadly alternatives like opioids.”
Senate Bill 9 authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston
The bill would limit eligibility for release on personal bonds without cash and grant the state authority to appeal bail decisions, potentially keeping a defendant in jail for up to 20 days while the appeal is resolved.
Sent to the governor’s desk June 1.
“The Texas Legislature has passed several bills this session to reduce Texans’ property tax bills. I am proud to have voted in favor of these measures, including the latest legislation we passed last week. SJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption provided by school districts to $140,000. SJR 85 would propose a constitutional amendment to raise the school district homestead exemption for seniors and individuals with disabilities by $90,000. Both of these propose amendments will go before voters this November for their approval,” Jones said in a statement to the media.
“These additional property tax reductions will particularly help low- and middle-income homeowners, as property values continue to rise along with other costs associated with homeownership. In total, the state will invest $51 billion to bring down property taxes for Texans.”
Senate Bill 4 authored by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston
The bill would amend the Tax Code to increase the mandatory homestead exemption, which lowers the portion of a home’s value subject to taxation for public school funding, from $100,000 to $140,000.
Sent to the governor’s desk Sunday.
Senate Bill 37 authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe
This bill would amend the Education Code to set out provisions relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers and duties of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Sent to the governor’s desk Monday.
This bill imposes political control over the core curriculum, majors, minors and certificates, limiting professors’ ability to teach analytical thinking, a broad range of topics and current scholarship that prepares students for careers and civic life – undermining workforce readiness. It gives political appointees – not medical experts – control over medical education and patient care, jeopardizing billions in annual research funding and the health care millions of Texans rely on, according to the Texas American Federation of Teachers.
“In the same session that they forced through a private school voucher program to undermine this state’s K-12 schools, Texas lawmakers chose to double-down on their attacks against our colleges and universities,” said Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT, in an email. “Hundreds of faculty and students testified to the expected catastrophic impacts of this legislation, from the exodus of top teaching talent to the waning of Texas higher educational institutions’ prestige.
“They can’t say they weren’t warned, and they shouldn’t be surprised by the brain drain to come between now and when they return to Austin in 2027. This isn’t something you can tweak in the interim or fix in rulemaking. There are families today, right now, who are making choices about where their children will attend college. And they are looking at Texas and wondering whether their students will be safe or supported or taught the critical-thinking skills they need to succeed. That is damage that will take years to undo.”
Though not completely based on race, many of the bills that have passed or may pass could negatively affect the African American community more so than other communities due to systemic disparities in education, health access, housing and disciplinary practices. Staying informed about policy changes may help community members navigate the system more effectively and plan for potential impacts. A list of new laws and pending bills can be found at https://capitol.texas.gov.
Information from emails sent by Texas lawmakers was used in this report.