Burleson ISD certifies compliance with Texas’ Senate Bill 12 and adopts emergency library policy under SB13

The Burleson Independent School District Board of Trustees on Sept. 8 voted to certify compliance with Senate Bill 12 and to adopt an emergency revision to local policy EFB to satisfy requirements in Senate Bill 13 related to library materials. The board’s action was presented as an administrative compliance step and passed on a voice vote.

District legal and policy staff summarized the main requirements of Senate Bill 12 and the related Senate Bill 13 changes. Staff said the bills emphasize parental rights, limit district authority to assign diversity, equity and inclusion duties, restrict district facilitation of social transitioning for students, and change opt-out and grievance procedures for certain instructional materials. Staff noted that the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) drafted model language to assist districts; the district’s recommended EFB local revision follows that draft.

Tommy Dyer, presenting the policy item, told trustees that TASB supplied an edited EFB local to comply with SB13 and described the adoption as an emergency measure so the district’s policy takes immediate effect. Dyer said, “Senate Bill 13 tells us what we have to do,” and recommended the board adopt the TASB-drafted language. Trustees moved and approved an emergency adoption of EFB local and then approved a resolution certifying SB12 compliance.

The district’s certification affirms that staff reviewed the bill’s requirements and updated local policy to align with state law; the board’s vote does not create new instructional programming beyond what the policy permits. Staff noted that the district will continue to comply with federal anti-discrimination requirements.

Action: Motion to approve emergency adoption of revisions to local policy EFB and to approve a resolution certifying compliance with Senate Bill 12; both motions passed on voice votes.