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AN ACT
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relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in |
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religious speech or prayer while on duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 22.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.012. RELIGIOUS SPEECH OR PRAYER. The right of an |
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employee of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to |
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engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty may not be |
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infringed on by the district or school or another state |
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governmental entity, unless the infringement is: |
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(1) necessary to further a compelling state interest; |
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and |
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(2) narrowly tailored using the least restrictive |
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means to achieve that compelling state interest. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 965 passed the Senate on |
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April 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 965 passed the House on |
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May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 86, Nays 48, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |