FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/hers), emily@tfn.org
AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott late last night signed Senate Bill 12 into law, a measure that places new restrictions on classroom instruction and student activities. The bill includes provisions that limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in public schools, prohibit some student organizations like the “Gay-Straight Alliance,” and place constraints on curriculum content.
Texas Freedom Network Political Director Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her) issued the following response:
“This law is a devastating blow to students and educators across Texas. By signing SB 12, the Governor has made it clear that he would rather ban books and muzzle teachers than confront the real challenges facing our schools.
“SB 12 gives politicians the license to undermine the histories, identities, and voices of countless Texans. It opens the door to the erasure of Black, brown, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and Indigenous narratives in our classrooms. It intimidates educators from teaching history truthfully and discussing identity honestly. It impacts the ability of students and teachers to engage in meaningful, reflective dialogue that fosters empathy and critical thinking.
“Texas students are resilient. Our educators are courageous. And our communities are organized. No law, no governor, no manufactured moral panic will deter us from defending a public education system where every child, no matter their race, gender, background, or identity, can thrive. We will not back down.”
While the 89th Regular Texas Legislative Session has come to a close, Texas Freedom Network’s advocacy for public education will continue throughout 2025 as the organization educates Texans about new policy, tracks the effects of legislation on our students, and engages in organizing at the Texas State Board of Education, ensuring Texans have a voice when student curriculums are being debated and voted upon.
In 2026, Texas Freedom Network and our youth project, Texas Rising Action, will endorse candidates for progressive change and mobilize Texans to the ballot box.
