Relating to the inclusion of instruction on voter registration and civic engagement in the required curriculum for certain public high school students and certification by high school principals regarding access to voter registration application forms.

The text as introduced · 595 words

90R3231 PRL-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 912

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the inclusion of instruction on voter registration and

civic engagement in the required curriculum for certain public high

school students and certification by high school principals

regarding access to voter registration application forms.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 28.019 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.019. INSTRUCTION ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND CIVIC

ENGAGEMENT. (a) In this section:

(1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.

(2) "Division" means the Elections Division of the

Office of the Secretary of State.

(b) The board by rule shall require at least four hours of

instruction on voter registration and civic engagement for high

school students enrolled in a school district who are or will be 18

years of age or older during the school year.

(c) The board and the division shall enter into a memorandum

of understanding that establishes each agency's respective

responsibilities in developing instruction, including curriculum

and educator training modules, under this section. The instruction

must include:

(1) curriculum regarding:

(A) an overview of local, state, and federal

government;

(B) information regarding the importance of

voting;

(C) information regarding a person's voting

rights, including information contained in the notice of voters'

rights publicized under Section 62.0115, Election Code;

(D) an overview of the processes for local,

state, and federal elections;

(E) information regarding the manner in which a

person may register to vote in this state;

(F) information regarding the manner in which a

person may vote by using the voting systems most commonly used in

this state;

(G) strategies for making informed voting

decisions and identifying misinformation, propaganda, and media

bias; and

(H) an opportunity during instructional time in

which students may complete an application to register to vote; and

(2) educator training modules regarding:

(A) delivering the instruction in a nonpartisan

manner;

(B) ethical responsibilities related to

delivering the instruction;

(C) model lesson plans; and

(D) suggested activities.

(d) In developing the instruction under this section, the

board and division may consult with any interested party, including

a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making

recommendations regarding the instruction.

(e) Before finalizing any instruction under this section,

the board shall provide a reasonable period for public comment.

(f) The agency shall develop and make available additional

resources related to the instruction required by this section,

including curriculum, educator training modules, and instructional

material that includes free or low-cost open education resource

instructional materials, as defined by Section 31.002.

SECTION 2. Section 13.046, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:

(e-1) Once per school year, the principal of each public or

private high school shall certify to the secretary of state that the

principal has complied with Subsection (d) and that each student in

the school has access to registration application forms.

SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2028, the State Board

of Education and the Elections Division of the Office of the

Secretary of State shall develop the instruction required under

Section 28.019, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2028-2029

school year.

SECTION 5. 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.