BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2273
	By: Oliverson et al. (Creighton)
	Education
	5/17/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Concerns have been raised that young Texans are not properly aware of the dangers posed by political ideologies such as communism, socialism, fascism, and totalitarianism. By incorporating the study of these political ideologies into the foundation curriculum, students can develop a critical understanding of the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of protecting the individual rights and freedoms that our country was founded upon. Additionally, when learning about these ideologies and the regimes that embraced them, it is imperative that students understand the experiences of real people who lived� or died� under those regimes.

H.B. 2273 amends Section 28.002 (Required Curriculum), Education Code, to require that Texas students be educated on political ideologies, such as communism, socialism, fascism, and totalitarianism, that conflict with the founding principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.

H.B. 2273 also requires the use of first-hand accounts as part of the instructional material on these political ideologies.

H.B. 2273 amends current law relating to including an understanding of certain political ideologies in the foundation curriculum in public schools.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.002, Education Code, by amending Subsections (h-1) and (h-6) and adding Subsection (h-3), as follows:

(h-1)� Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE), in adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the foundation curriculum under Subsection (a)(1) (relating to requiring each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 to offer, as a required curriculum, certain subjects), to adopt, as appropriate, essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an understanding of:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision;

(2) political ideologies, such as communism, socialism, fascism, and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States; and

(3)-(5) redesignates existing Subdivisions (2)-(4) as Subdivisions (3)-(5).

(h-3) Requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school, in providing instruction regarding the political ideologies described by Subsection (h-1)(2), to use first-person accounts as part of the instructional materials for the instruction.

(h-6) Makes a conforming change to this subsection.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.