SB 2946
Hagenbuch DEI Bill Bans Courses In A Term It Never Defines
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Dragnet
THE TEXT
…“course, in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including but not limited to, promoting differential treatment of individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The caption targets DEI studies programs, but the ban covers any course "in" a term the bill never defines, and "including but not limited to" leaves the reach open-ended. Employees also face unpaid leave or firing for violations of that undefined standard.
DragnetInitial 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 prohibiting public institutions of higher education from offering programs or courses in DEI studies.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Scope: “including but not limited to.” First violation, a year unpaid. Second, fired.
The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from offering any degree, certificate, major, minor or course in diversity, equity, and inclusion, starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. It touches every public institution, its employees and its students: the state auditor must audit each school every year, and students forced into a banned course can sue for an injunction. Employees found in violation face unpaid leave for a year on the first violation and firing on the second, and the coordinating board keeps a list that blocks rehiring for a set time, though several cross-references point to subsections that do not exist.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2946 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from offering programs or courses in DEI studies.
WHAT IT DOES
Scope: “including but not limited to.” First violation, a year unpaid. Second, fired.
The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from offering any degree, certificate, major, minor or course in diversity, equity, and inclusion, starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. It touches every public institution, its employees and its students: the state auditor must audit each school every year, and students forced into a banned course can sue for an injunction. Employees found in violation face unpaid leave for a year on the first violation and firing on the second, and the coordinating board keeps a list that blocks rehiring for a set time, though several cross-references point to subsections that do not exist.
CHARGES
[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 40%
THE TEXT
…“course, in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including but not limited to, promoting differential treatment of individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The caption targets DEI studies programs, but the ban covers any course "in" a term the bill never defines, and "including but not limited to" leaves the reach open-ended. Employees also face unpaid leave or firing for violations of that undefined standard.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Education K-16
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“An institution of higher education may not offer a certificate or degree program, including any major or minor, or course, in diversity, equity, and inclusion”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill bans DEI degrees and courses at public universities but never defines the term, so a renamed program could argue it falls outside the ban.
THE TEXT
…“may bring an action against the institution for injunctive or declaratory relief.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill limits what public universities may teach and gives students a right to sue institutions that require banned coursework.
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 15, 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$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 S Referred to Education K-16
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs
Human Relations
EDUCATION--HIGHER--CURRICULUM
AUDITOR, STATE
HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 486 words
89R19910 TYPED By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 2946 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from offering programs or courses in DEI studies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.988 to read as follows: Sec. 51.988. PROHIBITION ON COURSES. (a) In this section: (1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. (2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (a) An institution of higher education may not offer a certificate or degree program, including any major or minor, or course, in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including but not limited to, promoting differential treatment of individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity. (b) The state auditor shall conduct a compliance audit of each institution of higher education every year to determine whether the institution has spent state money in violation of this section. (c) If the state auditor determines pursuant to a compliance audit conducted under Subsection (e) that an institution of higher education has spent money in violation of this section, the institution may not receive state funding until the institution complies with this section. (d) A student of an institution of higher education who is required to participate in a certificate or degree program, including any major or minor, or course in violation of this section may bring an action against the institution for injunctive or declaratory relief. (e) If an institution of higher education determines that an employee of the institution has violated this section, the institution shall: (1) take the following action against the employee: (A) for the first violation, place the employee on unpaid leave for the next academic year; or (B) for the second or a subsequent violation, discharge the employee; and (2) report the determination and the action taken by the institution to the coordinating board. (i) The coordinating board shall maintain and provide to each institution of higher education a list of persons against whom action has been taken under Subsection (h). (j) An institution of higher education may not hire an employee who is included on the coordinating board's list maintained under Subsection (i) before: (1) if the employee was placed on unpaid leave under Subsection (h)(1)(A), the end of the academic year for which the employee is placed on unpaid leave; or (2) if the employee was discharged under Subsection (h)(1)(B), the fifth anniversary of the date on which the employee was discharged. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year. SECTION 3. 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.