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Lake Travis board declines to adopt SB 11 daily-prayer resolution citing administrative burden and litigation risk
Summary
Following a legal explanation of SB 11 and its consent-and-safeguards framework, the board voted to decline adoption of the statute’s model resolution, citing implementation burdens and potential litigation; the board emphasized existing rights for voluntary prayer remain in place.
The Lake Travis ISD board voted Feb. 25 to decline adopting the model resolution under Senate Bill 11 that would require a designated daily period for voluntary prayer and religious text reading at campuses.
District counsel reviewed SB 11’s provisions for the board: the statute establishes a compliance framework that includes written parental consent for participation, express waivers of certain future claims in the consent form, safeguards to keep the activity from being broadcast over public-address systems or replacing instructional time, and procedures to separate participants from nonparticipants. Counsel said those requirements create administrative tracking, scheduling and location burdens and that the statute does not provide dedicated funding for implementation.
Trustees discussed the legal and fiscal implications. One trustee said declining to adopt the resolution would leave the status quo intact—students retain existing rights to silent, individual prayer and to participate in voluntary clubs or before/after school gatherings. Several trustees expressed concern that the statute invites litigation and shifts unfunded implementation costs to districts; counsel noted the attorney general has indicated willingness to defend districts that adopt, but defense is not a guarantee of legal victory.
Trustee Phil moved to decline adoption of the SB 11 resolution, and the board approved the motion.
Board members requested continued attention to unfunded mandates and their fiscal impacts as the legislature advances additional education-related laws.
