[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6107389,"mediaKeyId","2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89","parentId",2776402,"title","Bill would require Texas schools to consider IHRA working definition when adjudicating antisemitic misconduct","audioSeconds",592,"startMs",3598000,"endMs",4190000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89&start=3598&end=4190","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89/thumbnail_3598000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107389/Texas/Bill-would-require-Texas-schools-to-consider-IHRA-working-definition-when-adjudicating-antisemitic-misconduct","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107389-804c1d39a484c32c6fb04104748c9459/orig.mp4?Expires=1775616672&Signature=bBT8ZbSpPY30~hrV7V4KLAUQYRY7Bdh~E-4MEt64AyuWUVZoA2ijO7y53n4HIMhk3dBEOVT-uFgUHYcMi8LT3tdH0wQl6ZnKQAHuwg6xW0jKR5-Cyz6ZJ7KP9ZJ4HN-aHpP2fMJXxtqE6HU74ssLhozSxEKJYl64Qv8dySZXQ0sb7CJiSn2DlqiZcTR1jicTxkcWlH05QVqeHip~GFursX~HlFAk8-dU-qn3reI8hbEBh6pkpaieDL278MwtY36w5KLImYIctMh6vTZxQUU64mZdW98cBjokwRW9HdGhZu7h2YJAQHQTo0F76zUgoBDVHHwXBBvUXmL7qHITA-s1FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","A bill before the Senate Education Committee would require Texas public schools and higher education institutions to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when a school has already determined that a student violated its code of conduct and there is reason to believe the conduct may have been motivated by antisemitism.

Sandra Hagee Parker, vice chair of the Texas Holocaust Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, testified in favor of Senate Bill 3 26. Parker said the IHRA definition offers examples that help schools identify conduct that crosses from protected expression to unlawful harassment. “You cannot defeat what you are unwilling to define,” she said, arguing the definition would give educators clearer guidance when incidents escalate from debate to harassment.

Several Jewish communal organizations and victims of antisemitic harassment testified in support. Sharon Vane described repeated, targeted harassment of her son in middle school, including Nazi imagery in a yearbook and physical intimidation; she said existing school responses were inadequate and that clearer standards could help.

Opponents, including campus students and civil liberties advocates, urged caution. Testimony from several college and high‑school students and community members argued that the IHRA working definition can be overly broad and may conflate criticism of Israeli government policies with antisemitism — a dynamic they said risks chilling legitimate political speech. One university student said the definition “encourages a dangerous conflation of the government of Israel and the Jewish people.” Witnesses also raised concerns about how the definition’s illustrative examples would be applied in K‑12 classrooms.

Committee members asked witnesses about the law’s scope and about ensuring the bill protects free expression while giving schools practical tools to identify harassment. The committee did not vote on the bill during the hearing; senators acknowledged conflicting testimony and signaled further work with stakeholders on definitions and exemptions would be necessary before any final action.

Sources and context: Public testimony before the Senate Committee on Education, May 20, 2025; witnesses included Sandra Hagee Parker (Texas Holocaust Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission), ADL and community representatives, and several students and parents who described incidents on K‑12 and college campuses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Education K-16 (Part II) March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A proposed law would direct Texas public schools and colleges to consult the IHRA working definition of antisemitism when a code‑of‑conduct violation might be motivated by bias, proponents said, and opponents warned the definition could be applied too broadly to political speech.","taxTitle","Committee on Education, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16848,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107379,"Omnibus teacher bill advances in committee after hours of testimony; includes rehire grants, certification fee waivers and classroom removal rights",1452,11033000,12485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89&start=11033&end=12485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89/thumbnail_11033000.jpg","/articles/6107379/Texas/Omnibus-teacher-bill-advances-in-committee-after-hours-of-testimony-includes-rehire-grants-certification-fee-waivers-and-classroom-removal-rights","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107379-8faee5860ab04a32e440a29f4b3b4311/orig.mp4?Expires=1775616672&Signature=KhgbqXYudArbQmDob7n8gU53Z2PncpZSQqlK4tQ0hx8odVVtgu4s2TSSdWcqBRLiMdjJmTLdr6KtlFPIaeeb7uoQYHhY0AoeSlCLO5r1qx-HUKEa9erhrqhs10ssphskYZGD1o1RUKXYoiwWX7nLxn6gVJK-JSlybmxxNVbQQeYmxfUghTCUMp5oQWWA4vjWphc8yPY0seH6MqdpFK7wslQ5U-AOkBOGL7TeENcXpj79MtA8qqL3~RQHpHL1ckQY3VXnBOT3H5eP1TPNZe4PE6jT-pZhv8C2bLJQEG4FROx1nfrV332G1yFMA5BYXHF4o3Nhneq3e~oFuQv0SlPVkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A multi‑part bill aimed at teacher recruitment, retention and working conditions drew broad support from educator organizations, school districts and teacher groups during a long Senate Education Committee hearing.

Senate Bill 27, sponsored in committee by Senator Creighton and adopted as a committee substitute, packages several recommendations from a teacher vacancy task force. Key elements in the substitute include:

- Certification exam assistance: waivers or fee payments for first exam attempts for teachers seeking high‑needs credentials such as special education or bilingual certification;
- Rehire grants: reimbursement funding to help districts and charter schools rehire retired teachers as a short‑term strategy to fill vacancies;
- Teacher time study: a state‑supported study and technical assistance to identify non‑instructional duties and reduce burdens that drive turnover;
- Strategic staffing support: TEA technical assistance for “grow‑your‑own” programs, apprenticeships and compensation strategies;
- Removal and return‑to‑class provisions: clarifications that a teacher may remove a student who endangers classroom order, plus a requirement for a written return‑to‑class plan and teacher consent before reinstatement.

Education groups including the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) and the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education (TCAS) testified in favor, while unions and advocacy groups asked for clearer limits on removal procedures and assurances that removed students receive appropriate supports. TCTA’s Pamela McPeters praised the substitute as “fair and balanced” and emphasized the time‑study, fee waivers and protections for teachers who resign for medical or spousal reasons.

The committee voted to report the committee substitute favorably (roll call), advancing it to the full Senate. Sponsors and allies said they will continue to work on precise implementation language, including how removal, documentation and return‑to‑class plans will interact with special education protections and local procedures.

Sources and context: Committee hearing May 20, 2025; testimony from TCTA, TCAS, Texas 2036, AFT Texas and multiple superintendents and advocates.","A committee substitute of an omnibus teacher bill won committee approval after testimony from unions, districts and special‑education leaders; the measure includes certification fee waivers, rehire grants for retired teachers, a teacher time study and clarified classroom removal rights.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107384,"Senate committee splits over raising truancy penalties; judges and superintendents back stronger enforcement",243,8247000,8490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89&start=8247&end=8490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89/thumbnail_8247000.jpg","/articles/6107384/Texas/Senate-committee-splits-over-raising-truancy-penalties-judges-and-superintendents-back-stronger-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107384-3d8a34c8fa9e3ea60485c6bba61aca03/orig.mp4?Expires=1775616672&Signature=ZnkP8BAoVArR5uEM2T0wkP8io65-TQaoZo~F9lhfqbAu3HVF3dWCKEjyfUSEwWo7OVTQ~gyBbsadyPPKB3Hefe49TZbiOBIe1XMphBzsExcOHe-iRbJ3PAQpgYiB35GVdEkdg7we12YYWsEMmNLW1hlQcxHGUdH34rp7-6MfvsDo0OsfWbQw~G7UpSF1DqUkHUjqnbkjsiV3icogr1yu1FAFcNCI0dLdr1acyJ4zU7L86zZNq1rr~lllwL7fWtgAJ1aRrg-83TOgVnGyE7iW9mDtZcUkaa4BvUcMUY3wcLU5gtH7vgBSQwupYMo3HF-lLhIia7n2sz4m3JNX90lRrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 19 25 drew split testimony as judges, superintendents and county officials urged the Senate Education Committee to restore enforcement options for chronic unexcused absences while advocates for vulnerable youth asked for guardrails and supports.

The substitute before the committee would require school districts to refer students with 10 or more unexcused absences in a six‑month period to truancy court and give judges authority to issue remedial orders; if students or parents fail to comply, the substitute allows escalation to contempt and potential class‑C criminal proceedings in appropriate cases. The bill keeps truant conduct civil to start but adds a pathway to criminal sanctions for repeated noncompliance with court orders.

Justice of the Peace Katie Hawkins and Montgomery County Justice Wayne Mack, both members of the Justice of the Peace and Constable Association legislative committee, testified the current civil model (since 2015) has produced fewer filings while chronic absenteeism has grown. “Accountability is necessary not only for the school districts but also for the truancy courts and students,” Hawkins said. Mack described local diversion and trauma‑informed efforts in Montgomery County and said stronger tools are needed to compel compliance where preventive efforts fail.

Superintendents said chronic absenteeism has climbed in recent years and harms students’ long‑term outcomes and district finances. \"We lose about $7 million for every one percentage point change in the attendance rate,\" Cy‑Fair ISD superintendent Doug Killian told the committee, and he reported 13,879 students in his district missed 10 or more days in the prior six months while the district filed only eight truancy cases last year. Wylie ISD superintendent David Vincent urged earlier, faster intervention and criticized delays in the current process.

Youth service and homelessness advocates opposed restoring punitive escalation without stronger investments in supports. The Texas Network of Youth Services warned that removing counseling and McKinney‑Vento supports before court referral would harm students experiencing homelessness and violate federal requirements.

Committee action: The committee heard hours of testimony and left the substitute pending for further work. Authors and witnesses said technical changes and guardrails (disability exemptions, McKinney‑Vento protections, diversion alternatives) will be needed if the bill advances.

Sources and context: Senate committee hearing on May 20, 2025; testimony by Justice Katie Hawkins, Judge Wayne Mack, Supts. Doug Killian and David Vincent, and youth services providers.","A Senate substitute would increase enforcement options for chronic unexcused absences by routing students with 10 or more unexcused absences in six months to truancy court and allowing escalation to contempt and potential class‑C penalties where remedial orders are violated.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107394,"Texas school police chiefs urge restoring citation authority as tool, not mandate",417,337000,754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89&start=337&end=754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89/thumbnail_337000.jpg","/articles/6107394/Texas/Texas-school-police-chiefs-urge-restoring-citation-authority-as-tool-not-mandate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107394-07239bef99ee4edbef79e76af91ff57b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775616672&Signature=SRqu~y6rthnPwuIRiaa-vIs4hgAcWimPkxlQ6xtPFtBUpoBhEu1P-I4UOiieHD2JkvqVglvOwxPUlZ8yGw6hUpeLs2xhk-fXli4ABN8FtczguTWrULccmtnmlunM6H6bJh81wFsa5AWq1d7kTxDdq2-Kw9R7CBuGE87jvE9fFVlXMzBxbTPuCZHeazmFAtbwxa3EGPb0f6mZii7AE0dHrSmJ4P6ofIa~vuURIEYYwA8KGloKZw5jAlsxIQrOCHCHQUiabNgwzbVjlJ75fMlUcskDxwXNYoH1MDCzFgS1Z77D31PDhwMHS~UaSJ5kgBXKNFHjxydNRS3ci9XZ4a1Taw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A pair of Texas school police leaders told the Senate Education Committee that restoring authority for school-based officers to issue class C citations would return a discretionary, de‑escalation tool and help families feel their complaints are taken seriously.

The chiefs — Bill Avra, chief of police for Jacksonville Independent School District and president of the Texas School District Police Chiefs Association, and Jeffrey Foley, chief of police for Midway ISD and past president of the Texas Association of School Resource Officers — testified in support of committee substitute Senate Bill 19 24.

Avra told the panel that his members “believe that it has been about, since 2013 that we had lost the ability to issue citations,” and said officers need a limited option that is “not the go‑to” response for classroom incidents. Foley said issuing a citation “would never be the first option,” but that having the option allows officers to use their training and judgement when appropriate. Both described citation authority as a last resort that can sometimes prevent escalation or satisfy a parent who wants an official action taken.

Committee members and several witnesses pressed for safeguards. Senator Menendez asked whether an issuing option could be used too widely; Celled Avra and Foley both said training and local policy must limit use. Avra stressed Texas law already curbs certain criminal processes for minors: “we can't even get a class C warrant for [children under 17],” and he described other legal limits that shape how citations are handled.

Education stakeholders who testified elsewhere in the hearing urged caution. Disability Rights Texas, IDRA and advocacy groups warned the bills under consideration could disproportionately affect students with disabilities and urged stronger behavioral supports, training and due‑process protections before any authority to remove or criminalize students is expanded.

What’s next: The committee heard the testimony but did not take a final vote on the citation measure during this session. Proponents said they are willing to work with legislators on technical changes and guardrails.

Sources and context: Public testimony before the Senate Committee on Education, May 20, 2025; testimony by Chief Bill Avra and Chief Jeffrey Foley.","Two Texas school police chiefs told the Senate Education Committee that restoring authority to issue class C citations for school-related misconduct would give officers a discretionary tool to address disruptive conduct and support families, while they and education advocates said guarantees and guardrails are needed to prevent overuse.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107374,"Votes at a glance: key Senate Education Committee roll calls (May 20, 2025)",264,4876000,5140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89&start=4876&end=5140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776402-f65549e9fb79f6d600fb5b84e92f6f89/thumbnail_4876000.jpg","/articles/6107374/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Senate-Education-Committee-roll-calls-May-20-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107374-106fabf2eae1ddc5e4e7a320fc7b9537/orig.mp4?Expires=1775616672&Signature=EoXWOMxkmEiNDyUAZEtmgJwwPc~PKEixAKm3TJHHVoLdFZJ5RH352nyTzq3kFcGUyDL9XOIoeI4xBROdOo5qhy5BChNNTmdcxX-C6hqT1JB9x6~PZwXmK7i1~XiWeQvwFAbMBlPP~tpajovjfkwOBqC~rFENgBFOPGCjtn9PZ7fzZSngFFSVARn-0x9K12EEMQ9Nd4WK6dst2HEatx5CvMsQjfInjtVzxtAxLrWzJUq5o1M1p7pGEdtiK0jehokE8Jg0Be7ThcXmA86cscye4YglPyRnp7dAUKomKBtu-QfmOruKHRvYgk3o8vaQdprfdhQ57CWkVIwsZ~l-W3hxUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This summary lists bills that the Senate Committee on Education took formal roll‑call action on during the May 20, 2025 hearing. The clerk called the roll on each measure and the committee recorded the following outcomes as part of the public hearing transcript:

- Senate Bill 207 (relating to excused absences for mental health care appointments): Reported favorably to the full Senate. Vote recorded: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 568 (relating to special education funding; new committee substitute adopted): Committee substitute adopted and SB 568 reported favorably to the full Senate. Roll call recorded: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 920 (committee substitute relating to medication administration in open‑enrollment charter schools): Committee substitute adopted and reported favorably. Roll call: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 1207 (parenting and paternity awareness instruction): Reported favorably. Roll call: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 1396 (committee substitute concerning national education standards): Committee substitute adopted and reported favorably. Roll call: 9 ayes, 2 nays.

- Senate Bill 1619 (use of epinephrine delivery devices): Reported favorably. Roll call: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 1273 (Higher Education Research Security Council substitute): Committee substitute adopted and reported favorably. Roll call: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 1741 (preventing espionage at institutions of higher education substitute): Committee substitute adopted and reported favorably. Roll call: 11 ayes, 0 nays.

Several other bills were laid out, heard, or left pending during the hearing (including SB 326 on antisemitism, SB 605 on charter expansion, SB 226 on kinship enrollment, and committee substitutes discussed in the hearing). Some matters that received testimony were left pending subject to the chair’s call and were not finalized by a committee roll call during this session.

Notes on procedure: The committee recorded each roll call on the hearing record; the clerk announced tallies for the measures above as shown in the transcript. This summary records the on‑the‑record committee outcomes only; floor action or final enactment requires additional full‑Senate and legislative steps.","The Senate Committee on Education recorded roll‑call votes on several bills during the May 20 hearing. Below are the committee outcomes as read aloud on the record; several bills were reported favorably to the full Senate with unanimous or near‑unanimous committee support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would require Texas schools to consider IHRA working definition when adjudicating antisemitic misconduct

Omnibus teacher bill advances in committee after hours of testimony; includes rehire grants, certification fee waivers and classroom removal rights

Senate committee splits over raising truancy penalties; judges and superintendents back stronger enforcement

Texas school police chiefs urge restoring citation authority as tool, not mandate

Votes at a glance: key Senate Education Committee roll calls (May 20, 2025)