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SB204

Regular Session

Relating to a handbook on parental rights in education and training requirements on parental rights in education for a member of the board of trustees of a school district.

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
SB204
Moderate
Relating to a handbook on parental rights in education and training requirements on parental rights in education for a member of the board of trustees...
Moderate Compliance Urgency
Requires near-term attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
SBOETEA
Primary Author: Sen. Angela Paxton
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2026 (Hard deadline for incumbent trustees to complete training).
  • Agency Rulemaking:
  • TEA: Must publish the Parental Rights Handbook by January 1, 2026.
  • SBOE: Must release the Trustee Training Curriculum by April 1, 2026.
  • *Regulatory Gray Zone:* Between Jan 1 and April 1, 2026, the Handbook will be public, but the training to interpret it will not be available. Districts should consult counsel during this gap if parental grievances arise.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. January 2026: Immediately audit the published TEA Parental Rights Handbook against current District grievance policies; identify discrepancies.
  • 2. April 2026: Board Secretary must locate SBOE training materials and schedule a "Compliance Workshop" for the May or June board meeting.
  • 3. August 2026: Finalize all trustee training records and ensure certificates are on file before the September 1 deadline.
  • 4. Ongoing: Update the District website to include the mandatory link to the TEA Handbook.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Superintendent Agreements: Review performance metrics regarding "Board Relations" or "Compliance." Ensuring the Board completes this training is now a measurable performance standard for the Superintendent.
  • Policy Service Vendors: Contracts with policy maintenance firms (e.g., TASB) must be utilized to update local policy manuals (specifically BBD Series) to reflect the new state-mandated curriculum.

Hiring/Training

  • Trustee Training: This is a mandatory addition to the Continuing Education (CE) matrix.
  • Incumbents (seated before Jan 1, 2026): Must complete training by Sept 1, 2026.
  • New Trustees (seated on/after Jan 1, 2026): Must complete training within their standard orientation window (typically 120 days, pending SBOE rules).

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Public Disclosures: Districts must link the TEA Parental Rights Handbook prominently on the district website and in student/parent guides.
  • Meeting Minutes: Completion of this training must be announced and recorded in the minutes of the last regular board meeting prior to an election.
  • Audit Trail: Maintain individual certificates of completion for all trustees to defend against "deliberate indifference" claims in future litigation.

Fees & Costs

  • Direct Costs: Negligible. The state provides the curriculum.
  • Indirect Costs: Budget for legal counsel to review the TEA Handbook against local grievance policies (FNG Local) to identify conflicts.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Recurrence of Training: The statute requires trustees to "complete training" but does not explicitly state if this is a one-time certification or an annual requirement. Expect SBOE rulemaking to clarify if re-elected trustees must retake the course.
  • Handbook vs. Local Policy: The TEA Handbook will define "parental rights" in plain language. If this definition diverges from your local policy interpretation (particularly regarding library materials or medical privacy), the TEA Handbook—as agency guidance—will likely supersede local policy in the eyes of a court.
  • Enforcement Penalties: The bill lacks specific monetary fines. Enforcement will occur through public disclosure (shaming) in board minutes and potential TEA investigations into governance standards.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Nov 12, 2024
Passed Senate
Apr 10, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsEducationEducation--primary & SecondaryEducation--primary & Secondary--generalEducation--school DistrictsParental RightsStaff Development & TrainingEducation Agency, TexasEducation, State Board of
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Angela PaxtonRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsors

Rep. Terri Leo-WilsonRepublican · Primary Sponsor
Joint Sponsors
Cosponsors (4)

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Angela Paxton

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB204

Q

What does Texas SB204 do?

SB204 mandates the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to publish a plain-language Parental Rights Handbook and requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to develop mandatory training on these rights for all School District Trustees. School Boards must operationalize this by integrating the handbook into district communications and ensuring all sitting trustees complete the new training module to avoid liability for "failure to train" in parental grievance disputes. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2026 (Hard deadline for incumbent trustees to complete training).

Q

Who authored SB204?

SB204 was authored by Texas Senator Angela Paxton during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB204 signed into law?

SB204 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB204?

SB204 is enforced by State Board of Education (SBOE) and Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB204?

The compliance urgency for SB204 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB204?

The cost impact of SB204 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB204 address?

SB204 addresses topics including education, education--primary & secondary, education--primary & secondary--general, education--school districts and parental rights.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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