BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 5381
89R25244 RDR-F	By: Lowe et al. (Middleton)
	Education K-16
	5/26/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Children of military families often face unique educational challenges due to frequent relocations, changes in curriculum standards, and disruptions caused by deployment or injury. While Texas is a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, current protections do not fully extend to the children of recently retired or deceased service members. These gaps can lead to unequal access to educational stability and services.

H.B. 5381 amends current law relating to the interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children and other protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school.

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. Authorizes this Act to be cited as Rocky's Law.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, by adding Section 25.906, as follows:

Sec. 25.906. PROTECTIONS FOR CERTAIN MILITARY DEPENDENTS. (a) Defines "compact" and "uniformed services."

(b) Provides that the provisions of Articles IV (Educational Records and Enrollment), V (Placement and Attendance), VI (Eligibility), and VII (Graduation) of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (compact) apply to the following children as if those children were children described by Article III (Applicability) of the compact:

(1) a child of a veteran of the uniformed services who was discharged or released through retirement, for a period of four years after the date of the veteran's retirement, if the veteran returns to the veteran's home of record on military orders; and

(2) a child of a member of the uniformed services who dies on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty, for a period of four years after the member's death.

(c) Requires each school district and open-enrollment charter school that maintains an Internet website to post on the district's or school's Internet website home page an easily accessible link entitled "MIC3" that leads to information regarding the compact and the additional protections provided by this section.

(d) Requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school that enrolls a child of a member of the uniformed services to comply with all applicable provisions relating to persons not eligible for employment in public schools under Chapters 21 (Educators) and 22 (School District Employees and Volunteers).

SECTION 3. Amends Article II(A), Section 162.002, Education Code, to redefine "active duty."

SECTION 4. Amends Section 162.006(b), Education Code, to provide that the State Advisory Council consists of certain persons, including a classroom teacher who is or was employed at a school operated by the United States Department of Defense Education Activity designated by the agency, and to make nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2025�2026 school year.

SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.