HB 3579
bill striking “personal skills” from character education
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 eliminating the requirement for personal skills instruction in public schools.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Self-management and decision-making skills go too.
The bill strikes "personal skills" from the state law that requires character education in Texas public schools, along with the listed items self-management skills, interpersonal skills and responsible decision-making skills. It touches the State Board of Education, every school district and every open-enrollment charter school, all of which must still teach the remaining character traits such as courage, honesty, respect and patriotism. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, schools no longer have to include those personal-skills items in their character education programs.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 3, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3579 · 2025-03-03
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to eliminating the requirement for personal skills instruction in public schools.
WHAT IT DOES
Self-management and decision-making skills go too.
The bill strikes "personal skills" from the state law that requires character education in Texas public schools, along with the listed items self-management skills, interpersonal skills and responsible decision-making skills. It touches the State Board of Education, every school district and every open-enrollment charter school, all of which must still teach the remaining character traits such as courage, honesty, respect and patriotism. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, schools no longer have to include those personal-skills items in their character education programs.
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 10, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Mar 3, 2025
03/25/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 25 2025 3:26PM
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--Curriculum
EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF
Text
The text as introduced · 341 words
89R14813 RDR-F By: Olcott H.B. No. 3579 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to eliminating the requirement for personal skills instruction in public schools. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 29.906, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 29.906. CHARACTER TRAITS [ AND PERSONAL SKILLS ] INSTRUCTION. SECTION 2. Sections 29.906(a), (b), and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The State Board of Education shall integrate positive character traits [ and personal skills ] into the essential knowledge and skills adopted for kindergarten through grade 12, as appropriate. (b) The State Board of Education must include the following positive character traits [ and personal skills ]: (1) courage; (2) trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty; (3) integrity; (4) respect and courtesy; (5) responsibility, including accountability, diligence, perseverance, [ self-management skills, ] and self-control; (6) fairness, including justice and freedom from prejudice; (7) caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity[ , and interpersonal skills ]; (8) good citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good and the community, [ responsible decision-making skills, ] and respect for authority and the law; (9) school pride; and (10) gratitude. (c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school must adopt a character education program that includes the positive character traits [ and personal skills ] listed in Subsection (b). In developing or selecting a character education program under this section, a school district shall consult with a committee selected by the district that consists of: (1) parents of district students; (2) educators; and (3) other members of the community, including community leaders. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. SECTION 4. 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.