HB824

Regular Session

Relating to the inclusion of civics instruction in public school government curriculum requirements for high school students.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

State Board of Education • Texas Education Agency • Local School Districts (ISDs)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediately upon signature).
Compliance Deadline: August 2025 (Start of the 2025-2026 School Year). Materials must be classroom-ready by the first day of instruction.
Agency Rulemaking: The State Board of Education (SBOE) must urgently revise the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to align with the statute. A "regulatory gray zone" exists between now and the SBOE's adoption of specific standards; businesses must build to the statute immediately rather than waiting for final agency language.

Immediate Action Plan

Vendors: Conduct an immediate content audit against Section 1(h-3). Develop a digital "Civics Supplement" immediately to bridge the gap for the Fall semester.
School Boards/Counsel: Review current curriculum contracts for "change in law" provisions to shift the cost of updates to the vendor.
Curriculum Directors: Draft a revised pacing calendar for the High School Government course to ensure the new mandates are covered before the end of the semester.
Compliance Officers: Monitor the SBOE agenda weekly for the release of proposed TEKS language to ensure final alignment.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Vendor Warranties: ISDs must review Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with curriculum providers. If current contracts guarantee "TEKS compliance," vendors are now potentially in breach unless they provide updates.
Addendums: Districts should execute immediate contract addendums requiring vendors to provide digital supplements covering the new topics (specifically Robert's Rules and local official identification) at no additional cost.
Data Privacy (SDPAs): If vendors utilize geolocation or address-lookup tools to help students identify their specific elected officials, Student Data Privacy Agreements must be reviewed to ensure compliance with data minimization standards.

Hiring/Training

Teacher Professional Development: Social Studies coordinators must schedule training sessions prior to the Fall semester. Teachers will likely require specific instruction on parliamentary procedure (Robert's Rules of Order) to teach it effectively.
Curriculum Development: District curriculum directors must re-map the Government course scope and sequence to insert these modules immediately.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

TEKS Alignment Matrices: Publishers and vendors must update their correlation documents to certify coverage of Section 1(h-3). Failure to produce this documentation will disqualify materials from adoption.
Instructional Verification: Campus administrators must document via lesson plans that the specific required topics are being taught to satisfy potential Texas Education Agency (TEA) audits.

Fees & Costs

Procurement Costs: ISDs must budget for supplemental materials if current textbooks cannot be updated digitally.
Development Costs: Vendors must absorb the R&D cost of creating new modules rapidly to retain state contracts.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Depth of "Robert's Rules": The statute requires instruction on "Robert's Rules of Order" but fails to define proficiency levels. The SBOE must clarify if students need general awareness or functional competency (e.g., moving motions).
"Elected Officials Who Represent the Student": It is unclear if the curriculum must simply teach students *how* to find their representatives or if it must identify the *specific names* of current officeholders. The latter creates a "static content risk" for publishers, as materials will become obsolete after every election cycle.
Scope of "Local Officials": The term "other local governmental officials" is broad. Rulemaking determines if this extends beyond City Council/County Commissioners to include School Boards or Special Districts.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsEducation Education--primary & Secondary Education--primary & Secondary--curriculum Education, State Board of

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 824

By: Jones, Jolanda

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that a strong democracy relies on an informed and engaged electorate. However, many young Americans currently graduate high school without a fundamental understanding of government functions, lawmaking, or civic participation. The bill author further informed the committee that ensuring comprehensive civics education is essential to fostering active and responsible citizenship as, without this knowledge, students are less likely to vote, engage with elected officials, or consider public service. H.B. 824 seeks to address this issue by mandating civics instruction as part of the high school government curriculum in Texas public schools.

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

H.B. 824 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education, in adopting the state curriculum standards for the government component of the social studies curriculum for high school students, to adopt standards to develop each student's civic knowledge, including the following topics:

·the role of governmental officials, including statewide elected officials, county officials, city councilors, and other local governmental officials;

·the voting process and election laws of Texas;

·the eligibility requirements to run for elected office in Texas;

·Robert's Rules of Order; and

·the elected officials who represent the student at each level of government.

The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

Senate Sponsors

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Cosponsors (2)

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 824

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the inclusion of civics instruction in public school
	government curriculum requirements for high school students.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (h-3) to read as follows:
	(h-3) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the
	government component of the social studies curriculum for high
	school students, the State Board of Education shall adopt essential
	knowledge and skills to develop each student's civic knowledge,
	including:
	(1) the role of governmental officials, including:
	(A) statewide elected officials;
	(B) county officials;
	(C) city councilors; and
	(D) other local governmental officials;
	(2) the voting process and election laws of this
	state;
	(3) the eligibility requirements to run for elected
	office in this state;
	(4) Robert's Rules of Order; and
	(5) the elected officials who represent the student at
	each level of government.
	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
	school year.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 31, 2025

TO:	Honorable Brad Buckley, Chair, House Committee on Public Education

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB824 by Jones, Jolanda (Relating to the inclusion of civics instruction in public school government curriculum requirements for high school students.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

Public schools would likely incur costs to identify and purchase resources, modify their current curriculum, and train teachers to provide the additional required instruction.

Source Agencies:

701 Texas Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JMc, JPE, SL, ENA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB824

What does Texas HB824 do?

HB824 mandates immediate revisions to the high school government curriculum to include specific civics instruction, including parliamentary procedure (Robert's Rules of Order) and the identification of local elected officials. This legislation forces Independent School Districts (ISDs) and educational publishers to update course materials and scope sequences within a 60-90 day window to meet the 2025-2026 school year deadline. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediately upon signature).

Who authored HB824?

HB824 was authored by Texas Representative Jolanda Jones during the Regular Session.

When was HB824 signed into law?

HB824 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB824?

HB824 is enforced by State Board of Education, Texas Education Agency and Local School Districts (ISDs).

How urgent is compliance with HB824?

The compliance urgency for HB824 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB824?

The cost impact of HB824 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB824 address?

HB824 addresses topics including education, education--primary & secondary, education--primary & secondary--curriculum and education, state board of.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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