HB 5381: Lowe Military Dependents Bill Bars Staff With Assault Arrests

Caption

relating to protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school.

Summary

An arrest record is enough, no conviction needed. It covers any school serving military-connected students.

The bill, called "Rocky's Law," gives two more groups of children the school-transfer protections of the interstate compact for military children for four years: children of retired veterans who return home on military orders, and children of service members who die on active duty or from active-duty injuries. It requires every school district and charter school with a website to post an easy link labeled "MIC3" about the compact, and it requires the state's compact council to include a current or former Defense Department school teacher. It also bars anyone with an arrest record for assault on family members, strangers or minors from working at any school that serves military-connected students, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 15, 2025. Died in the Senate: voted out of the Education K-16 committee 11-0, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5381 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. David LoweRHouse 91

Rep. Gina HinojosaDHouse 49

Rep. Diego M. BernalDHouse 123

+ 2 more authors, 3 coauthors

ITEM

relating to protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school.

WHAT IT DOES

An arrest record is enough, no conviction needed. It covers any school serving military-connected students.

The bill, called "Rocky's Law," gives two more groups of children the school-transfer protections of the interstate compact for military children for four years: children of retired veterans who return home on military orders, and children of service members who die on active duty or from active-duty injuries. It requires every school district and charter school with a website to post an easy link labeled "MIC3" about the compact, and it requires the state's compact council to include a current or former Defense Department school teacher. It also bars anyone with an arrest record for assault on family members, strangers or minors from working at any school that serves military-connected students, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“No personnel with criminal arrest records involving assault upon family, unrelated individuals or minors can work at any school that serves military-connected students.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks of protections for certain military dependents, but this clause is a hiring bar based on arrest records, not convictions. It reaches every employee at any school with a military-connected student, which is broader than the caption suggests.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Public Education
Apr 22, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 22, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 22, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 22, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 22, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 30, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 30, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 30, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 6, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 6, 2025Committee report distributed
May 7, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 9, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 11, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 14, 2025Read 2nd time
May 14, 2025Passed to engrossment
May 14, 2025Record vote RV#2564
May 14, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 15, 2025Read 3rd time
May 15, 2025Passed
May 15, 2025Record vote RV#2671
May 15, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 15, 2025Reported engrossed
May 15, 2025Received from the House
May 16, 2025Read first time
May 16, 2025Referred to Education K-16
May 27, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 27, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 27, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 27, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 27, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 27, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 28, 2025Placed on intent calendar

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 139 yea · 2 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 15, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

David Lowe

Donors

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$121K Justice for Texas Victims$85K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30K

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 Oct 22, 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 United for a Conservative Majority PAC$120,500.00

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$120,500.00

Cash: $120,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $120,500.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 3, 2024 to Aug 26, 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.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101028850, 101030722, 101040612, 101068843.

Justice for Texas Victims$85,000.00

Justice for Texas Victims

$85,000.00

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $85,000.00

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 26, 2025 to Feb 4, 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.

Report IDs: 101028850, 101030722, 101040612.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Jan 12, 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.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101030722.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$120,500.00

Cash: $120,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $120,500.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 3, 2024 to Aug 26, 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.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101028850, 101030722, 101040612, 101068843.

×

Justice for Texas Victims

$85,000.00

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $85,000.00

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 26, 2025 to Feb 4, 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.

Report IDs: 101028850, 101030722, 101040612.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Jan 12, 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.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101030722.

Votes2

House May 15, 2025

Yea: 139
Nay: 2
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 2
Excused: 4

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2671

HB 5381 was passed by (Record 2671): 139 Yeas, 2 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 139 (published)
Nay: 2 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 14, 2025

Yea: 126
Nay: 7
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 9
Excused: 6

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2564

CSHB 5381 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2564): 126 Yeas, 7 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 126 (published)
Nay: 7 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities1 registration
Self6 registrations
Texas PTA1 registration

On

Texas Education Agency2 registrations

Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 14, 2025

05/28/2025 S Placed on intent calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:14 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Carrie IsaacRHouse 73

Helen KerwinRHouse 58

Cody VasutRHouse 25

Companion

SB 252 by Flores (similar)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Admission & Attendance

Military & Veterans

ROCKY'S LAW (PP56T)

EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 403 words

By: Lowe
H.B. No. 5381

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to protections for certain military dependents enrolled in

a public school.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as "Rocky's Law".

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 25.906 to read as follows:

Sec. 25.906. PROTECTIONS FOR CERTAIN MILITARY DEPENDENTS.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Compact" means the Interstate Compact on

Educational Opportunity for Military Children executed under

Section 162.002.

(2) "Uniformed services" means:

(A) the United States Army, Navy, Air Force,

Space Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and Reserves, or Coast

Guard;

(B) the Commissioned Corps of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or

(C) the Commissioned Corps of the United States

Public Health Service.

(b) The provisions of Articles IV, V, VI, and VII of the

Compact apply to the following children as if those children were

children described by Article III of the Compact:

(1) a child of a veteran of the uniformed services who

was discharged or released through retirement, for a period of four

years after the date of the veteran's retirement, if the veteran

returns to the veteran's home of record on military orders; and

(2) a child of a member of the uniformed services who

dies on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active

duty, for a period of four years after the member's death.

(c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school

that maintains an Internet website shall post on the district's or

school's Internet website an easily accessible link to information

regarding the Compact and the additional protections provided by

this section. This tab should be simply labeled "MIC3" under the

district's or school's main menu.

(d) The Texas Education Agency's Compact Council shall

include a current or former Department of Defense Education

Activity teacher.

(e) No personnel with criminal arrest records involving

assault upon family, unrelated individuals or minors can work at

any school that serves military-connected students.

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.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

Justice for Texas Victims

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

Justice for Texas Victims

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

House May 15, 2025

House May 14, 2025

For

On

Companion