The Texas House passed a broad parental‑rights and school‑governance bill after extended floor debate and a series of amendments that refined definitions and exceptions.

Senate Bill 12, championed in the House by Rep. Andrew Leach, establishes statutory protections and procedural steps intended to expand parental oversight of K–12 education. "This bill establishes that guaranteeing a parent's ability to make educational choices to access school records and to require consent for any medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatments involving their child," Leach told the floor.

Key floor issues included whether and how schools may adopt diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies; how clubs and extracurricular groups should be handled; whether faculty hiring or recruitment initiatives could continue; and protections for student free‑speech rights.

Leach offered a multi‑point perfecting amendment that, he said, incorporated feedback from other members. The amendment clarified the definition of “classroom instruction,” protected certain historical instruction, and added procedural language on clubs and parental notice. Several members pushed targeted amendments during debate — for example to explicitly allow school districts to recruit underrepresented teachers, to preserve the right of students to exercise First Amendment speech in schools, and to require online posting of certain school facility information — producing a long list of adopted and rejected proposals.

Opponents warned the bill could have chilling effects, while advocates said it restores and documents parental authority. The House approved the bill on a recorded vote after multiple roll calls. Supporters said the bill strikes a balance between educational standards and parental oversight; critics signaled intent to push additional protections in later sessions or through local school boards.