HB 2004
bill narrowing the lawsuit shield for school employees
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to a school district professional employee's liability for certain criminal conduct against a student.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Teachers get less protection from being personally sued.
The bill narrows the legal shield that protects school district professional employees, such as teachers, from being personally sued over acts done as part of their job. That shield would no longer cover an employee who commits certain listed offenses against a student, including offenses under Penal Code Chapters 19 or 20, the listed assault and injury sections, or any offense that requires sex offender registration. Students harmed by that conduct could seek damages from the employee personally, but only for conduct on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Jan 22, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2004 · 2025-01-22
SOLD BY
+ 9 coauthors
ITEM
relating to a school district professional employee's liability for certain criminal conduct against a student.
WHAT IT DOES
Teachers get less protection from being personally sued.
The bill narrows the legal shield that protects school district professional employees, such as teachers, from being personally sued over acts done as part of their job. That shield would no longer cover an employee who commits certain listed offenses against a student, including offenses under Penal Code Chapters 19 or 20, the listed assault and injury sections, or any offense that requires sex offender registration. Students harmed by that conduct could seek damages from the employee personally, but only for conduct on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Education
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Mar 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$32,500.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 10, 2024 to Jun 27, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101005773, 101012329.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 10, 2024 to Jun 27, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101005773, 101012329.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Jan 22, 2025
03/14/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 14 2025 2:36PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel
Education--Primary & Secondary--Teachers
Minors--Crimes Against
SEXUAL OFFENDERS
Text
The text as introduced · 236 words
89R9383 KJE-D By: Toth H.B. No. 2004 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a school district professional employee's liability for certain criminal conduct against a student. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 22.0511(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A professional employee of a school district is not personally liable for any act that is incident to or within the scope of the duties of the employee's position of employment and that involves the exercise of judgment or discretion on the part of the employee, except in circumstances in which a professional employee : (1) uses excessive force in the discipline of students or negligence resulting in bodily injury to students ; or (2) commits an offense against a student: (A) under Chapter 19 or 20, Penal Code; (B) under Section 22.01(a)(1), 22.02, or 22.04, Penal Code; or (C) for which the employee would be required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure . SECTION 2. This Act applies only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Conduct that occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.