HB 2899

AN ACT relating to requirements for courses in the core curriculum adopted

House Bill Alders
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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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Establishes specific learning outcomes and restrictions for core curriculum courses in Texas public higher education institutions. It prohibits courses that distort historical events, teach identity-based theories, or present systemic racism and oppression as inherent to U.S. institutions, while mandating detailed learning objectives for each course category such as communication, mathematics, sciences, languages, arts, history, government, and social sciences. The requirements will take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, potentially reshaping how core curriculum courses are designed and taught across Texas colleges and universities.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to requirements for courses in the core curriculum adopted
by public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.8221.  REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSES IN CORE CURRICULUM.
A course in an institution of higher education's core curriculum
adopted under Section 61.822(b):
(A)  distort a significant historical event;
(B)  include an aspect that teaches identity
(C)  be based on a theory that systemic racism,
sexism, oppression, or privilege is inherent in the institutions of
the United States or this state or was created to maintain social,
political, or economic inequities; and
(A)  for a communication course, the ability to
communicate effectively, including the ability to write clearly and
(B)  for a mathematics course, an understanding of
key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate
quantitative tools to everyday experience;
(C)  for a life and physical science course, the
ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the
scientific method and an understanding of biology, life sciences,
anatomy, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, or computer
(D)  for a language course, an ability to speak,
read, and write in a foreign language;
(E)  for a literature or philosophy course, an
understanding of the literary or philosophical development of
(F)  for an arts course, an appreciation of and
ability to analyze visual arts, performing arts, music, or film;
(G)  for a United States history course, a broad
understanding of the history of the United States and of this state;
(H)  for a United States government course, an
understanding of civics, including principles of the founding of
the United States, such as natural rights, liberty, equality,
democracy, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism,
constitutional self-government, and the structure, function, and
roles of state and local governments; and
(I)  for a behavioral and social science course,
an understanding of concepts and principles used in the analysis of
human behavior and of past and present social, political, and
SECTION 2.  Section 61.8221, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.
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 History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to requirements for courses in the core curriculum adopted