BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1207

By: King

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that many Texas mothers are giving birth rather than seeking abortions following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This shift means that more Texas children who might have been aborted may now be placed for adoption. The bill sponsor has also informed the committee that research shows that many women lack clear information about adoption resources in Texas. S.B. 1207 helps address this issue by adding information related to adoption to the parenting and paternity awareness program that a public school district is already required to use in its high school health curriculum. This bill seeks to ensure that pregnant women possess accurate and compassionate information about adoption, empowering them to choose life when they feel unprepared for parenthood.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1207 amends the Education Code to require the parenting and paternity awareness program that a public school district must use in its high school health curriculum and may use in its middle or junior high school curriculum to include information related to adoption, including information about the following:

· the differences between private adoption and foster care;

· the process for adopting a child privately or through the state foster care system; and

· adoption as an alternative to becoming a parent and the process for placing a child for adoption.

The bill authorizes the research-based programs and curriculum materials that a district may develop or adopt for use in conjunction with the program to provide instruction in such information regarding adoption.

S.B. 1207 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.