Monitoring the Session

HB 318

Leach Bill Puts The State On The Hook For Expulsion Suits

Filed

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67
Why it's charged
Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

…“state shall indemnify the school district against liability for”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only of the attorney general defending a district. The body also puts the state on the hook to pay damages, settlements and other costs, which the caption does not mention.

Caption mismatch

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to the defense of a school district by the attorney general in certain causes of action arising out of the expulsion of a student.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: the attorney general defends districts. Bill: the state also pays the damages and settlements.

The bill makes the attorney general defend a school district when someone sues over the district expelling a student it says threatens the safety of other students or staff. It also makes the state pay the district's damages, settlements and other costs from those suits, and lets the attorney general settle them. Districts and expelled students' families are touched: the state, not the local district, carries the legal defense and the bill for losing or settling these cases filed after the law takes effect.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB318 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67

ITEM

relating to the defense of a school district by the attorney general in certain causes of action arising out of the expulsion of a student.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: the attorney general defends districts. Bill: the state also pays the damages and settlements.

The bill makes the attorney general defend a school district when someone sues over the district expelling a student it says threatens the safety of other students or staff. It also makes the state pay the district's damages, settlements and other costs from those suits, and lets the attorney general settle them. Districts and expelled students' families are touched: the state, not the local district, carries the legal defense and the bill for losing or settling these cases filed after the law takes effect.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

…“state shall indemnify the school district against liability for”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only of the attorney general defending a district. The body also puts the state on the hook to pay damages, settlements and other costs, which the caption does not mention.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“general shall defend a school district in a cause of action alleging”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill gives school districts a state-paid lawyer and state-paid damages in suits over expelling students for safety reasons, which works as a lawsuit shield for districts.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jeff Leach

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1.14MTexas Conservative Majority PAC$273KRepublican Party of Texas$182K

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 Oct 23, 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$1,141,482.69

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash
$555,000.00
Paid by others
$586,482.69
Total
$1,141,482.69
digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 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: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273,017.05

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$238,017.05
Total
$273,017.05
canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Republican Party of Texas$182,117.94

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$182,117.94
Total
$182,117.94
mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101072948.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash
$555,000.00
Paid by others
$586,482.69
Total
$1,141,482.69
digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 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: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$238,017.05
Total
$273,017.05
canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

×

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$182,117.94
Total
$182,117.94
mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101072948.

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:32 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Discipline

Minors--Health & Safety

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Text

The text as introduced · 287 words

90R1862 AND-D

By: Leach
H.B. No. 318

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the defense of a school district by the attorney general

in certain causes of action arising out of the expulsion of a

student.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 37.030 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.030. DEFENSE BY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR ACTIONS

ARISING OUT OF EXPULSION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS. (a) The attorney

general shall defend a school district in a cause of action alleging

that the district's expulsion of a student under this chapter on the

basis that the student poses a threat to the safety of other

students or district employees violates the laws of this state or

federal law.

(b) In a cause of action described by Subsection (a), the

state shall indemnify the school district against liability for

damages, settlement amounts, and any other costs or expenses

arising out of the cause of action. The attorney general may settle

the cause of action.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an action filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An

action filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by

the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

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, 2027.