Gag rules and speak-with-one-voice policies on trustee opinions become unenforceable.
The bill bars school boards from adopting or enforcing any rule, bylaw, or policy that limits a trustee from sharing the trustee's opinion on a board vote or any other district matter. It touches school district boards of trustees and the individual trustees who sit on them. Board-adopted gag rules or speak-with-one-voice policies aimed at trustee opinions become unenforceable starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 123 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 123 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 30, 2025. Died in the House: never got out of the Public Education committee.
relating to a limitation on rules, bylaws, and policies adopted by a
school district's board of trustees.
WHAT IT DOES
Gag rules and speak-with-one-voice policies on trustee opinions become unenforceable.
The bill bars school boards from adopting or enforcing any rule, bylaw, or policy that limits a trustee from sharing the trustee's opinion on a board vote or any other district matter. It touches school district boards of trustees and the individual trustees who sit on them. Board-adopted gag rules or speak-with-one-voice policies aimed at trustee opinions become unenforceable starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
Sources
Senator Middleton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1972 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
Sources
Senator Middleton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1972 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
89R5103 AND-F
By: Middleton
S.B. No. 1972
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a limitation on rules, bylaws, and policies adopted by a
school district's board of trustees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.151(d), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) The trustees may adopt rules and bylaws necessary to
carry out the powers and duties provided by Subsection (b). The
trustees may not adopt or enforce a rule, bylaw, or any other policy
that restricts a trustee's ability to share the trustee's opinion on
a matter voted on by the board of trustees or any other school
district matter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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