HB 2102
AN ACT relating to prohibiting discrimination and conduct motivated by
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Prohibits discrimination based on antisemitism in public schools and higher education institutions, defining antisemitism while explicitly protecting First Amendment rights. It requires educational institutions to treat antisemitism as a form of racial discrimination, mandating that any discriminatory actions motivated by antisemitism will be disciplined similarly to racist conduct. The legislation also allows schools to provide antisemitism awareness training and Jewish American Heritage Month instruction to students, faculty, and administrators, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to prohibiting discrimination and conduct motivated by antisemitism by public schools and institutions of higher education and providing antisemitism awareness training and instruction at those schools and institutions. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 1.009 and 1.012 to read as follows: Sec. 1.009. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION. (a) In this (1) "Antisemitism" has the meaning assigned by Section 448.001, Government Code, including the examples referenced in that term. The term does not include criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism of any other country. (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning (3) "Public elementary or secondary school" means a school district and a district, campus, program, or school operating under a charter under Chapter 12. (b) This section may not be construed to: (1) diminish or infringe on any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution; or (2) conflict with federal, state, or local (c) Notwithstanding any other law and subject to Subsection (d), a public elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education may not discriminate against a person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or marital status. Discrimination prohibited under this subsection includes discrimination affecting a person's: (1) admission to a program or course; (2) participation in a program or activity; (3) access to guidance or counseling services; (4) access to financial assistance or any other (5) employment, including employment conditions and (d) This section does not affect the provision of programs designed to meet the needs of emergent bilingual students, as defined by Section 29.052, gifted and talented students, students with disabilities, or other students who require specialized (e) For purposes of this section, discrimination motivated by antisemitism is considered discrimination motivated by race. (f) The Texas Education Agency shall monitor each public elementary or secondary school to ensure that the school complies with this section and Sections 22.906 and 37.0095. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall monitor each institution of higher education to ensure that the institution complies with this Sec. 1.012. ANTISEMITISM AWARENESS TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION. (a) In this section: (1) "Antisemitism" and "public elementary or secondary school" have the meanings assigned by Section 1.009. (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning (b) A public elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education may provide: (1) antisemitism awareness training to students, faculty, administrators, and law enforcement officers of the school (2) instruction to enrolled students for Jewish American Heritage Month to improve understanding of historical and modern Jewish experiences in the United States. SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 22, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 22.906 to read as follows: Sec. 22.906. ANTISEMITISM: DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (a) In taking disciplinary action against an employee for behavior that violates the district's or school's employee code of conduct and that may reasonably be determined to have been motivated by antisemitism, a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall consider the definition of antisemitism provided by Section 448.001, Government Code, including the examples referenced in that term, as instructive in determining whether the employee's behavior (b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that determines an employee's violation of the district's or school's employee code of conduct was motivated by antisemitism shall take the same disciplinary action against the employee as the district or school would take against the employee for a violation SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 37.0095 to read as follows: Sec. 37.0095. ANTISEMITISM: DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (a) In taking disciplinary action against a student for behavior that violates the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and that may reasonably be determined to have been motivated by antisemitism, a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall consider the definition of antisemitism provided by Section 448.001, Government Code, including the examples referenced in that term, as instructive in determining whether the student's behavior (b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that determines a student's violation of the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 was motivated by antisemitism shall take the same disciplinary action against the student as the district or school would take against the student for a violation SECTION 4. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9791 to read as follows: Sec. 51.9791. ANTISEMITISM: DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning (b) In taking disciplinary action against a student for behavior that violates the institution's student code of conduct or an employee for behavior that violates the institution's employee code of conduct and that may reasonably be determined to have been motivated by antisemitism, an institution of higher education shall consider the definition of antisemitism provided by Section 448.001, Government Code, including the examples referenced in that term, as instructive in determining whether the student's or employee's behavior was motivated by antisemitism. (c) An institution of higher education that determines a student's or employee's violation of the institution's student or employee code of conduct, as applicable, was motivated by antisemitism shall take the same disciplinary action against the student or employee as the institution would take against the student or employee for a violation motivated by racism. SECTION 5. (a) Sections 22.906 and 37.0095, Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2025-2026 (b) Section 51.9791, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. SECTION 6. 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.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Religion and related subject areas.
Haley Cornyn
Gavin L. Massingill
Darlene Brugnoli
Jennifer Shelley Rodriguez
Ky Ash
Nora Del Bosque
Craig Holzheauser
Jacob Smith
Elizabeth Hadley
Clayton Pope
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to prohibiting discrimination and conduct motivated by
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