The March Lege Lowdown

Hot dang, we’ve made it to March, y’all! Texas-sized shenanigans have continued from voucher schemes to downright disregard for religious freedom. 

Right-wing lawmakers have been wranglin’ votes sun up to sun down for bills that steal public funds from public schools, force prayer time, and mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every Texas classroom. 

Good luck explaining to our youngins what “coveting your neighbor’s wife” means when they ain’t had accurate, honest sex-ed throughout their schoolin’. Some of these legislators sure have a hankering to make the lives of our teachers even harder. Why can’t they just support ‘em and give ‘em a raise for Pete’s sake! 

But look here, don’t start thinkin’ it’s all doom and gloom!

On March 24, folks from near and far gathered at the Capitol for the LARGEST LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Day in the history of the Lone Star State. More than a thousand of us showed up and showed out to rally for transgender and queer Texans, get trained up on giving those lawmakers what for in the Capitol, and show the cowpokes trying to take our rights away that no law or court can erase the existence of LGBTQIA+ Texans. 

Without further ado, here’s your March Lege Lowdown of the key bills we’re focusing on related to our issue areas: public education, religious freedom, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive rights, and any big happenings in immigration and voting rights.

This bill would require that every public school classroom display a “durable” poster of the Ten Commandments that’s at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.

Almost identical to HB 1009, SB 10 would require that every public school classroom display a poster of the Ten Commandments that’s visible from “anywhere in the classroom.”

This bill, which establishes “prayer time” in schools, is a solution in search of a problem. Students and school employees already have and exercise the constitutionally protected right to pray and to read the Bible or other religious texts while at school. Rather than trying to fuel the culture wars, lawmakers should focus on providing the state’s schools with the resources they need to ensure students get a quality education.

The bill would establish a voucher that equals 85% of the estimated statewide average for per-student funding in public schools. Considering Texas ranks 44th in the nation for per-student funding, according to our friends at Texas AFT, it’s hard to imagine how this voucher would benefit families who can’t already afford private school tuition. We do know the bill would steal even more money from public schools!

The bill would establish “an education savings account program,” AKA voucher program. The $10,000 voucher proposed in the bill is unlikely to cover the full cost of most private schools in Texas. Families would also enter a “lottery” to receive the voucher. Studies in other states with vouchers have shown that 75% of the students receiving a school voucher were already enrolled in private schools—it’s clear this legislation is meant to serve wealthy families already sending their children to private schools.

This legislation would ban books by forcing vendors to “rate books for sexually explicit content,” create an unnecessary “catalog” of library materials, and require school districts to establish “library advisory councils” that could easily be infiltrated by bad actors seeking to censor materials about LGBTQIA+, Black, and brown people. This advisory board would then have the power to approve or deny all library material purchases. Parents already have the right to choose what their kids read in school—this bill is book banning, plain and simple. 

This bill takes aim at DEI initiatives and “instruction” in K-12 public schools. While most Texas public schools do not have DEI offices, this bill features “Don’t Say Gay” language banning instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity, effectively erasing LGBTQIA+ Texans from public school curriculums and classrooms. It’s worth noting that during his State of the State, Gov. Abbott threatened to fire “on the spot” any teachers who affirm their LGBTQIA+ students.

The bill proposes an amendment to the Texas Education Code requiring school district employees to obtain written parental consent before conducting psychological or psychiatric examinations, tests, or treatments on students. The legislation weaponizes “parental rights” to keep students from taking mental health and emotional well-being surveys or receiving mental health support in our public schools. The most vulnerable students in our schools, including LGBTQIA+ kids who may not have affirming homes, will miss out on vital mental health resources and interventions as a result.

SB 406 would block queer and transgender Texans from updating their birth certificates with gender markers that reflect who they truly are. 

This bill would allow medical providers to refuse care to Texans based on religious and personal beliefs. This legislation would make it even harder for Texans to get the care we need, especially Texans from the LGBTQIA+ community or those seeking reproductive healthcare. 

The bill proposes an amendment to the Texas Education Code requiring school district employees to obtain written parental consent before conducting psychological or psychiatric examinations, tests, or treatments on students. The legislation weaponizes “parental rights” to keep students from taking mental health and emotional well-being surveys or receiving mental health support in our public schools. The most vulnerable students in our schools, including LGBTQIA+ kids who may not have affirming homes, will miss out on vital mental health resources and interventions as a result.

SB 33 would further erode local control by prohibiting municipalities and counties from using public funds for practical support services related to abortion, even when such support does not directly fund abortion procedures. This includes essential services such as travel, lodging, meals, and childcare. These are critical resources that help individuals access reproductive healthcare outside of Texas. Given that abortion is now completely banned in the state, SB 33 serves as an additional barrier, targeting Texans who must leave the state for legal medical care.

Read Texas Freedom Network’s testimony against Senate Bill 33

SB 31 aims to provide clarification for doctors in emergencies, something pregnant people and doctors have been asking for since Texas banned abortion. However, SB 31 does not go far enough to protect people needing abortions, according to our partners in the reproductive rights movement. Advocates worry it could worsen access to abortion by allowing a hundred-year-old law to again be in effect, create more confusion for Texans, and add to the disinformation Texans face about abortion access.

SB 2880 criminalizes all forms of support for abortion care, including sharing information, providing travel assistance, or financial support, even if the abortion is conducted in a state where this healthcare is legal.

This bill would require proof of citizenship to vote, creating more barriers for Texas voters and encouraging racial profiling at the polls.

SB 76 would eliminate countywide polling places, making it even more difficult for Texas voters to make time to vote and causing even more confusion for folks about where and when they can cast their ballots.

That’s the March Lege Lowdown! We’ll be back next month, but until then, make sure you’re following Texas Freedom Network on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay informed on how you can take action for your fellow Texans!