HB 1253

AN ACT relating to the instruction on bullying and harassment included in

House Bill Zwiener
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

This Texas bill requires public schools to include evidence-based instruction on bullying and harassment in their health curriculum, focusing on awareness, prevention, identification, self-defense, and intervention strategies. The curriculum must teach students about respecting bodily autonomy and building confidence in protecting themselves, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The goal is to equip students with skills to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying and harassment effectively.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the instruction on bullying and harassment included in
the required health curriculum for public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 28.002(s), Education Code, is amended to
(s)  In this subsection, "bullying" has the meaning assigned
by Section 37.0832 and "harassment" has the meaning assigned by
Section 37.001. In addition to any other essential knowledge and
skills the State Board of Education adopts for the health
curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the board shall adopt for
the health curriculum, in consultation with the Texas School Safety
Center, essential knowledge and skills that include evidence-based
practices that will effectively:
(1)  address awareness, prevention, identification,
self-defense in response to, and resolution of and intervention in
(2)  teach respect for another person's bodily autonomy
and confidence in protecting one's own bodily autonomy.
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the instruction on bullying and harassment included in