Hearings this week to protect children
March 27, 2023 | Austin, TX
Several hearings will take place this week at the Capitol that will impact the protection of children:
March 27 - HB 1686
HB 1686 – March 27, 8 am: This bill will protect children from the “transgender” industry that claims to help people with gender dysphoria by destroying their bodies. The Senate bill is already on the Senate intent calendar and could be voted on any day. In the meantime, we need your help to get this bill through the House Committee.
March 28- HB 1769, HB 2012, HB 1507
HB 1769 - March 28, 10:30 am: This bill would change the statute of limitations on certain offenses against children. Read more and take action »
HB 2012 - March 28, 8 am: The House Committee on Public Education will hear HB 2012, which will extend the Display of National Motto law to ensure a teacher is permitted to hang our national motto in his/her classroom. Read more and take action »
HB 1507 - March 28, 8 am: The House Committee on Public Education will also hear HB 1507 which would prohibit celebrations and programs relating to sexual preference at our public and charter schools. Read more and take action »
March 29 - SB 13
SB 13 - March 29, 9am: The bill requires that parents have access to all school records for their children, including “records relating to school library materials the child obtains from a school library.” Under this bill, at the beginning of each year, the school district would be required to give parents the option to be notified, by email, EACH time a child obtains materials from the library.
The bill amends Section 33.021 of the Education Code and states the Texas State Library Archives Commission shall submit proposed standards for library services to the State Board of Education. These standards MUST include a “collection development policy” and must prohibit the retention of harmful materials. Additionally, they must comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act.
Under this legislation, the Board of Trustees of each district SHALL establish a local school advisory council to “assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in each school library catalog.”
And the district MUST consider the recommendations of the local school library advisory council before making changes to a school library catalog.
SB 13 is co-authored by our own Senators Brandon Creighton (SD 4) and Paul Bettencourt (SD 7).