Rep. Gervin-Hawkins introduces bill in Texas House to regulate school instructional materials

Rep. Gervin-Hawkins introduces bill in Texas House to regulate school instructional materials
Barbara Gervin Hawkins, Texas State Representative of 120th District (D) — https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Barbara_Gervin_Hawkins_Open_Congress_Austin_2023.jpg
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A new bill authored by State Rep. Gervin-Hawkins in the Texas House seeks to regulate how public schools select and use instructional materials to ensure compliance with state standards, according to the Texas Legislature website.

The bill on State Finances and Utilities category, introduced as HB 100 during the 89(1) legislative session on Tuesday, July 15, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the operability of first responder and public safety communication services used in responding to natural disasters or other emergencies on the Capitol grounds’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Texas Education Code to regulate the purchase, adoption, and use of instructional materials by public schools, effective with the 2025-26 school year. It prohibits schools from using funds to purchase instructional materials that contain obscene or harmful content or are on the State Board of Education’s rejected list. The bill adds a limitation that school districts may not adopt or use any rejected instructional material and specifies that open education resources must also not be on the rejected list. Additionally, local funds can be used to purchase materials not on the rejected list, providing schools flexibility in selecting instructional resources. The Act will take effect immediately if it obtains the required legislative votes, otherwise, it will become effective on Sept. 1, 2025.

Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, proposed another 74 bills during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles I, IV, & V, a member of the House Committee on Redistricting, and a member of the House Committee on Ways & Means.

Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Other Bills Introduced by Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins in Texas House
Bill Number Date Introduced Short Description
HB 5634 03/14/2025 Relating to the authority of certain municipalities and local government corporations to use certain tax revenue for certain qualified projects
HB 5474 03/14/2025 Relating to reversionary interests of the Health and Human Services Commission in certain real property in Bexar County
HB 5473 03/14/2025 Relating to certain interests of the Health and Human Services Commission in certain real property in Bexar County
HB 5472 03/14/2025 Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Health and Human Services Commission to the Bexar County Board of Trustees for Mental Health Mental Retardation Services d/b/a The Center for Health Care Services
HB 5085 03/13/2025 Relating to a study on the impact of certain seed banks and seed preservation on access to food and the environment
HB 4687 03/12/2025 Relating to the applicability of certain immunity and liability laws to certain charter school campuses or programs
HB 4686 03/12/2025 Relating to the Texas alcohol tourism development program and advisory committee
HB 4510 03/12/2025 Relating to first responder broadband network services used by first responders
HB 4334 03/11/2025 Relating to the operability of first responder and public safety broadband networks on the Capitol grounds
HB 4110 03/07/2025 Relating to establishing a minimum base wage for certain direct care workers under Medicaid
HB 3785 03/05/2025 Relating to labeling requirements for compounded drug products
HB 3599 03/03/2025 Relating to the certification of peer specialists and peer specialist supervisors for purposes of Medicaid mental health and substance use services
HB 3005 02/19/2025 Relating to the payment of funds under certain construction contracts
HB 2707 02/12/2025 Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees
HB 2624 02/10/2025 Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees
HB 2386 02/04/2025 Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals and establishing a legal paraprofessional licensing pilot program; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees
HB 2148 01/28/2025 Relating to the construction manager-at-risk and design-build methods of project delivery for a public work contract
HB 2039 01/23/2025 Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the appraised value of residential real property that arises from the installation in the property of certain energy efficiency-related improvements
HB 1724 01/02/2025 Relating to compensation for habilitation transportation services under the community living assistance and support services (CLASS) waiver program
HB 1721 01/02/2025 Relating to establishing a base wage for personal attendants under the community living assistance and support services (CLASS) waiver program
HB 1720 01/02/2025 Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of trespass in a facility housing an animal and to restitution for property damage resulting from that trespass
HB 1719 01/02/2025 Relating to the provision of personal assistance services under the community living assistance and support services (CLASS) waiver program
HB 1528 12/05/2024 Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees
HB 1483 12/02/2024 Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the appraised value of certain residential real property that arises from the installation in the property of certain energy efficiency-related improvements
HB 1460 11/22/2024 Relating to the establishment of a task force to locate relatives and certain individuals and to the procedures for providing notice to certain individuals on placement of a child in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services
HB 1440 11/21/2024 Relating to the Department of Family and Protective Services’ annual report of key performance measures and data elements for child protection; authorizing a penalty
HB 1342 11/15/2024 Relating to the issuance of private activity bonds for qualified residential rental projects
HB 832 11/12/2024 Relating to procedures regarding hearings and meetings held by or involving the University Interscholastic League
HB 830 11/12/2024 Relating to the administration of the University Interscholastic League
HB 825 11/12/2024 Relating to the implementation of certain rules regarding public school accountability adopted by the commissioner of education or the Texas Education Agency
HB 819 11/12/2024 Relating to the functions and duties of the University Interscholastic League
HB 810 11/12/2024 Relating to the requirements for hearings and meetings conducted by the University Interscholastic League
HB 804 11/12/2024 Relating to creating abbreviated educator preparation programs for certification in marketing education and certification in health science technology education
HB 801 11/12/2024 Relating to the application for funding for certain workforce development programs
HB 785 11/12/2024 Relating to the adoption of a healthy and safe school water plan by public schools
HB 784 11/12/2024 Relating to a grant program for municipal pedestrian infrastructure administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
HB 771 11/12/2024 Relating to a single common course numbering system for and the transfer of course credit among public institutions of higher education in this state
HB 769 11/12/2024 Relating to a grant program for neighborhood organization pedestrian infrastructure administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
HB 753 11/12/2024 Relating to the offering of certain high school courses for which students may earn college credit
HB 752 11/12/2024 Relating to a grant program for the preservation and restoration of, and education regarding, certain landmarks and buildings important to African American history in this state
HB 741 11/12/2024 Relating to the procedures for the removal of certain children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and monetary assistance provided by the Department of Family and Protective Services to certain relative or designated caregivers
HB 738 11/12/2024 Relating to creation by the Texas Historical Commission of a program to identify and restore Rosenwald Schools structures
HB 723 11/12/2024 Relating to school bus monitoring systems and the required reporting of certain offenses recorded by those systems
HB 719 11/12/2024 Relating to a manufacturer’s disclosure of ingredients and toxic metals in lipstick and lip gloss
HB 707 11/12/2024 Relating to the use of parental child safety placements
HB 699 11/12/2024 Relating to a manufacturer’s disclosure of cosmetic ingredients; authorizing an administrative penalty
HB 694 11/12/2024 Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services
HB 689 11/12/2024 Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed in a vehicle operated by a public transportation system
HB 681 11/12/2024 Relating to policies and procedures of the Department of Family and Protective Services, including regarding service plans and post-removal assessments
HB 676 11/12/2024 Relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife


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