---
title: "HB3629: Relating to prohibiting a person required to register as a sex offender from serving as a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district."
bill_number: HB3629
session: Regular Session
status: Enacted
filed_date: 2025-03-03
signed_date: 2025-06-20
effective_date: 2025-06-20
primary_author: Candy Noble (R)
subjects:
  - Crimes
  - Crimes--Against Persons
  - Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual
  - Education
  - Education--Primary & Secondary
  - Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel
  - Education--School Districts
  - SEXUAL OFFENDERS
compliance_urgency: critical
cost_impact: low
enforcing_agencies:
  - Independent School Districts (Filing Authorities)
  - Texas Education Agency (TEA)
  - Texas Secretary of State (Elections Division)
canonical_url: "https://jdkey.com/texas-89th-legislature/hb3629-89th-regular"
source: JD Key Consulting - Texas Legislative Intelligence
---

# HB3629: Relating to prohibiting a person required to register as a sex offender from serving as a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district.

**Status:** Signed into Law (June 20, 2025)
**Effective Date:** 2025-06-20

## Summary

## Executive Summary
HB3629 immediately amends the Texas Education Code to disqualify individuals required to register as sex offenders under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, from serving on Independent School District (ISD) boards of trustees. This legislation mandates an immediate revision to all candidate application forms to include a specific statement of eligibility, affecting all elections and vacancy appointments for terms beginning on or after June 20, 2025.

## Implementation Timeline
- **Effective Date:** **June 20, 2025** (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
- **Compliance Deadline:** **Immediate.** Any candidate application packets distributed or accepted for upcoming elections must contain the new statutory language.
- **Agency Rulemaking:** No specific agency rulemaking is required for the law to take effect. The statute is self-executing. Do not wait for the Secretary of State to issue updated generic forms; local counsel must amend district forms immediately.

## Operational Changes Required

### Contracts
- **Election Services Agreements:** If your ISD contracts with a County Elections Administrator to conduct elections, you must verify they have updated their candidate filing forms to comply with HB3629. Do not allow vendors to use outdated stock forms.

### Hiring/Training
- **Filing Authority Training:** Board Secretaries and administrative staff responsible for accepting ballot applications must be trained to verify that the new eligibility statement is present and signed.
- **Appointment Vetting:** For filling mid-term vacancies, the Board must integrate a check of the Texas Public Sex Offender Registry into the vetting process for potential appointees.

### Reporting & Record-Keeping
- **Candidate Applications:** You must revise the "Application for a Place on the Ballot." The form must now include a statement where the candidate swears they are aware that a person required to register as a sex offender is ineligible to serve.
- **Verification Logs:** Establish a protocol to document that a sex offender registry check was performed for all candidates and appointees, retaining these logs for liability protection.

### Fees & Costs
- **Legal Review:** Minimal costs associated with legal counsel drafting the addendum for ballot applications.
- **No New Fees:** There are no new filing fees associated with this legislation.

## Strategic Ambiguities
- **"Required to Register" vs. "Registered":** The statute disqualifies those *required* to register, not just those currently on the list. A candidate who is non-compliant with registration laws is ineligible, even if they do not appear on the public registry. ISDs must rely on the sworn affidavit on the ballot application as the primary enforcement mechanism.
- **Enforcement Authority:** The law does not explicitly grant Filing Authorities the power to administratively declare a candidate ineligible based on an independent background check without a court order. If a registry check returns a "hit," consult General Counsel immediately before rejecting an application to avoid wrongful rejection lawsuits.

## Action Plan
*   **Revise Forms Immediately:** Direct legal counsel to add the mandatory HB3629 eligibility statement to your "Application for a Place on the Ballot" and all vacancy appointment applications.
*   **Update Board Policy:** Amend Board Policy BBA (Legal) and (Local) to reflect this specific disqualification criteria.
*   **Audit Election Vendors:** Contact your County Elections Administrator to ensure they are aware of the change and have purged old forms.
*   **Notify Incumbents:** Inform current trustees of the new eligibility requirement prior to the next filing window.

## Compliance Badges
- **Urgency:** **Critical**
- **Cost Impact:** **Low**
- **Primary Enforcing Agency:** **Independent School Districts (Filing Authority) / Texas Secretary of State**

## Business Impact

- **Compliance Urgency:** Critical
- **Cost Impact:** Low
- **Enforcing Agencies:** Independent School Districts (Filing Authorities), Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Secretary of State (Elections Division)

## Key Compliance Information

### New Penalties

- **Requirement to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure:** administrative - Ineligibility/Disqualification from Office

### Reporting Requirements

- **Who:** Candidates for ISD Board of Trustees
  - **What:** Mandatory statement on ballot application acknowledging ineligibility if required to register as a sex offender
  - **When:** Upon filing application for a place on the ballot
  - **To Whom:** Independent School District (Filing Authority)

## Official Analysis

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# BILL ANALYSIS

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H.B. 3629

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By: Noble

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Public Education

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Committee Report
  (Unamended)

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**BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE **



The bill author has informed
  the committee that there are no specific restrictions preventing registered
  sex offenders from running for or serving on an independent school district
  board of trustees, which poses safety concerns. H.B. 3629 seeks to ensure
  that those in school leadership positions are allowed to be around children
  by making a person required to register as a sex offender ineligible to serve
  as a trustee of an independent school district.

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**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.

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**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.

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**ANALYSIS **



H.B. 3629 amends the Education
  Code to make a person required to register as a sex offender ineligible to
  serve as a trustee of an independent school district. The bill applies only
  to the eligibility of a person to serve on a district's board of trustees for
  a term that begins on or after the bill's effective date or to fill a vacancy
  that occurs on or after that date.



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**EFFECTIVE DATE **



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

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## Topics

- Crimes
- Crimes--Against Persons
- Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual
- Education
- Education--Primary & Secondary
- Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel
- Education--School Districts
- SEXUAL OFFENDERS

## Author

**Primary Author:** Candy Noble (R)

## Source Links

- [Full Interactive Analysis](https://jdkey.com/texas-89th-legislature/hb3629-89th-regular)
- [Texas Legislature Online](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3629)
- [LegiScan](https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB3629/2025)

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*Analysis provided by [JD Key Consulting](https://jdkey.com). For questions about Texas legislative strategy, contact us at [jdkey.com/contact](https://jdkey.com/contact).*