HB 161

relating to excused absences from public school for students with a
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-9) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
(b-9)  A school district shall excuse a student from
attending school for a maximum of 10 days in a school year for an
absence resulting from symptoms related to a menstrual disorder,
such as dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhagia, or polycystic
ovary syndrome, if the student or the student's parent or guardian
provides documentation from a physician licensed to practice
medicine in this state stating that the student has a menstrual
(d)  A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b),
(b-1), (b-2), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), (b-8), (b-9), or (c) may not be
penalized for that absence and shall be counted as if the student
attended school for purposes of calculating the average daily
attendance of students in the school district.  A student whose
absence is excused under Subsection (b), (b-1), (b-2), (b-4),
(b-5), (b-7), (b-8), (b-9), or (c) shall be allowed a reasonable
time to make up school work missed on those days.  If the student
satisfactorily completes the school work, the day of absence shall
be counted as a day of compulsory attendance.
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.