SB 965: Parker Bill Protects School Staff Who Pray While On Duty

Caption

relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.

Summary

To stop a praying coach, a school needs a compelling state interest and the least restrictive means.

The bill adds a new section to the Education Code that protects the right of public school and charter school employees to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty. It bars school districts, charter schools and other state government bodies from restricting that right unless the restriction serves a compelling state interest and uses the least restrictive means. On the ground, a school that wants to stop a teacher or coach from praying on the job now has to meet that high legal test, starting immediately or on September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1556 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB965 · 2025-01-29

SOLD BY

Sen. Tan ParkerRSenate 12

Sen. Paul BettencourtRSenate 7

Sen. Donna CampbellRSenate 25

+ 6 more authors, 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.

WHAT IT DOES

To stop a praying coach, a school needs a compelling state interest and the least restrictive means.

The bill adds a new section to the Education Code that protects the right of public school and charter school employees to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty. It bars school districts, charter schools and other state government bodies from restricting that right unless the restriction serves a compelling state interest and uses the least restrictive means. On the ground, a school that wants to stop a teacher or coach from praying on the job now has to meet that high legal test, starting immediately or on September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 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

Jan 29, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 29, 2025Filed
Feb 13, 2025Read first time
Feb 13, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Mar 3, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 3, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 3, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 3, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 13, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 13, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 17, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Mar 17, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 17, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Mar 24, 2025Co-author authorized
Mar 24, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 1, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 1, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 1, 2025Record vote
Apr 1, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 1, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Menéndez
Apr 1, 2025Amendment fails of adoption
Apr 1, 2025Record vote
Apr 1, 2025Passed to engrossment
Apr 1, 2025Record vote
Apr 1, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 1, 2025Record vote
Apr 1, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 1, 2025Passed
Apr 1, 2025Record vote
Apr 1, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 2, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 9, 2025Read first time
Apr 9, 2025Referred to State Affairs
May 12, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 12, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 12, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 12, 2025Left pending in committee
May 12, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 12, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 14, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 14, 2025Committee report distributed
May 15, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 19, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 21, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 22, 2025Read 2nd time
May 22, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 32(c)(1)
May 22, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 22, 2025Record vote RV#3261
May 22, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025Read 3rd time
May 23, 2025Passed
May 23, 2025Record vote RV#3339
May 23, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025House passage reported
May 23, 2025Reported enrolled
May 26, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 26, 2025Signed in the House
May 27, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“The right of an employee of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty may not be infringed on by the district or school or another state governmental entity”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill puts a state-law shield around on-duty religious speech by school employees and forces any school restriction to pass strict scrutiny.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 86 yea · 48 nay

Senate · 20 yea · 11 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Tan Parker

Donors

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC$40K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$25K The Peck Family Trust$25K

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 28, 2024 to Jun 29, 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.

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC$40,000.00

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 10 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 17, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 17, 2026 to Jun 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.

Report IDs: 101060289.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$25,250.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$25,250.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $25,250.00

fundraiser $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100986801, 101009904, 101031351.

The Peck Family Trust$25,000.00

The Peck Family Trust

$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 · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. 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: 100986801.

Money

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

×

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 10 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 17, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 17, 2026 to Jun 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.

Report IDs: 101060289.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$25,250.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $25,250.00

fundraiser $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100986801, 101009904, 101031351.

×

The Peck Family Trust

$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 · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. 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: 100986801.

Votes7

House May 23, 2025

Yea: 86
Nay: 48
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 7
Excused: 7

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3339

SB 965 was passed by (Record 3339): 86 Yeas, 48 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 86 (published)
Nay: 48 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 22, 2025

Yea: 84
Nay: 52
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 7
Excused: 5

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3261

SB 965 was passed to third reading by (Record 3261): 84 Yeas, 52 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 84 (published)
Nay: 52 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Yea: 20
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 20 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Yea: 20
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Parker moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 965 at this time on its third reading and final passage: SB 965, Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

Yea: 20 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Yea: 20
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

SB 965 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

Yea: 20 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Yea: 11
Nay: 20
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The amendment to SB 965 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 20.

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

Yea: 11 (published)
Nay: 20 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Yea: 20
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Parker moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 965 at this time on its second reading: SB 965, Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

Yea: 20 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses22

For: 16
Against: 4
On: 2

Names

For

ADF Action1 registration
Alliance Defending Freedom1 registration
Self6 registrations
Self; Texas Eagle Forum1 registration
Self; Texas Right To Know1 registration
Self; Texas Values2 registrations
Texas Faith & Freedom Coalition1 registration
Texas Values3 registrations

Against

ACLU of Texas1 registration
Self2 registrations
Self; Equality Texas1 registration

On

Self1 registration
TEA1 registration

Sources

22 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 fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 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 F by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1556

by Sen. Parker, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Apr 28, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 29, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Pete FloresRSenate 24

Phil KingRSenate 10

Companion

HB 717 by Leach (identical)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Religion

Text

The text as introduced · 185 words

89R108 JTZ-D

By: Parker, et al.
S.B. No. 965

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in

religious speech or prayer while on duty.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 22.012 to read as follows:

Sec. 22.012. RELIGIOUS SPEECH OR PRAYER. The right of an

employee of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to

engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty may not be

infringed on by the district or school or another state

governmental entity, unless the infringement is:

(1) necessary to further a compelling state interest;

and

(2) narrowly tailored using the least restrictive

means to achieve that compelling state interest.

SECTION 2. 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: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

The Peck Family Trust

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

The Peck Family Trust

House May 23, 2025

House May 22, 2025

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Senate Apr 1, 2025

Senate Apr 1, 2025

For

Against

On

88R SB 1556

Companion