Q
What does Texas SB1207 do?
SB1207 mandates the inclusion of specific adoption instruction within the Parenting and Paternity Awareness (P. A. P.
SB1207
Regular Session
Relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity awareness program in public schools.
ModeratePlan for compliance
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Education Agency (TEA) • State Board of Education (SBOE) • Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
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Compliance Analysis
Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
Implementation Timeline
- Effective Date: September 1, 2025.
- Compliance Deadline: August 2025. Because the statute applies "beginning with the 2025-2026 school year," districts must have the curriculum ready for the first day of instruction, which typically precedes the statutory effective date.
- Agency Rulemaking: The State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) must revise the P.A.P.A. program materials prior to the 2025-2026 school year. Expect updated curriculum standards to be released in Spring/Summer 2025.
Immediate Action Plan
- 1. Immediate: Flag the 2025-2026 Health curriculum for revision. Notify Academic Directors that the current P.A.P.A. module is obsolete effective August 2025.
- 2. Q2 2025: Monitor the SBOE and OAG websites for the release of the updated P.A.P.A. curriculum materials.
- 3. July 1, 2025: Deadline to finalize vendor updates or internal curriculum guides to ensure readiness for the "August Gap" between school start and the statutory effective date.
- 4. August 2025: Conduct training for all Health teachers on the new adoption modules and liability limitations.
Operational Changes Required
Contracts
- Curriculum Vendors: Review Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with health education providers and LMS vendors. Add an addendum requiring certification that their content libraries are updated to reflect the SB1207 amendments to Texas Education Code § 28.002(p).
- External Consultants: If your district supplements the P.A.P.A. program with guest speakers (e.g., adoption agencies), update their service agreements to ensure their presentations align with the new statutory requirement to distinguish between private adoption and foster care.
Hiring/Training
- Teacher In-Service: Schedule mandatory training for Health educators during the August 2025 in-service period. Training must cover the new OAG-provided modules.
- Liability Guardrails: Instruct educators that while they must teach the "process" and "legal rights" of adoption, they are not attorneys. Training must clearly define the boundary between educational instruction and unauthorized practice of law.
Reporting & Record-Keeping
- TEKS Verification: Documentation of curriculum delivery must explicitly track the three new required pillars: (1) difference between private/foster adoption, (2) the adoption process, and (3) adoption as an alternative to parenting.
- Audit Trail: Maintain records of the specific materials used (OAG-provided vs. supplemental) to demonstrate compliance in the event of a TEA audit or parental grievance.
Fees & Costs
- Budget Impact: Low. The state provides the core P.A.P.A. curriculum materials at no cost.
- Indirect Costs: Allocation of hours for curriculum development and teacher training time.
Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations
- Depth of "Process" Instruction: The statute requires instruction on the "process for adopting." It is currently undefined whether this requires a high-level overview or a detailed explanation of legal filings. Districts should adhere strictly to OAG-provided materials to avoid liability for misrepresenting complex legal procedures.
- Middle School Application: The law permits, but does not require, this instruction in middle schools. Districts must make a formal policy decision on whether to expand this curriculum downward or restrict it to high school Health classes.
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Legislative Timeline
This bill's path through the Texas Legislature
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Official Analysis
BILL ANALYSIS
| Senate Research Center | S.B. 1207 |
| 89R9899 AND-F | By: King |
| Education K-16 | |
| 3/17/2025 | |
| As Filed |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
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. Unfortunately, research shows that many women lack clear information about adoption resources in Texas.
S.B. 1207 helps solve this problem by adding information related to adoption to the parenting and paternity awareness program that a school district is already required to use in its high school health curriculum. This bill ensures that pregnant women possess accurate and compassionate information about adoption, empowering them to choose life when they feel unprepared for parenthood. Expanding adoption education in schools is a critical step in promoting a culture of life and supporting women with real choices.
As proposed, S.B. 1207 amends current law relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity awareness program in public schools.
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. Amends Sections 28.002(p) and (p-2), Education Code, as follows:
(p) Requires that the parenting and paternity awareness program required to be developed by the State Board of Education meet certain requirements, including that it include information related to adoption, including information about 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. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(p-2) Authorizes the programs and curriculum materials a school district adopts for use in conjunction with the program developed under Subsection (p) to provide instruction in certain areas, including the information regarding adoption described by Subsection (p)(2) (relating to requiring that the program include certain information related to adoption). Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2025�2026 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
Senate Authors
House Sponsors
Joint Sponsors
Bill Text(with markup)
| S.B. No. 1207 | ||
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| relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity | ||
| awareness program in public schools. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(p) and (p-2), Education Code, | ||
| are amended to read as follows: | ||
| (p) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the | ||
| office of the attorney general, shall develop a parenting and | ||
| paternity awareness program that a school district shall use in the | ||
| district's high school health curriculum. A school district may | ||
| use the program developed under this subsection in the district's | ||
| middle or junior high school curriculum. At the discretion of the | ||
| district, a teacher may modify the suggested sequence and pace of | ||
| the program at any grade level. The program must: | ||
| (1) address parenting skills and responsibilities, | ||
| including child support and other legal rights and responsibilities | ||
| that come with parenthood; | ||
| (2) include information related to adoption, | ||
| including information about: | ||
| (A) the differences between private adoption and | ||
| foster care; | ||
| (B) the process for adopting a child privately or | ||
| through the state foster care system; and | ||
| (C) adoption as an alternative to becoming a | ||
| parent and the process for placing a child for adoption; | ||
| (3) address relationship skills, including money | ||
| management, communication skills, and marriage preparation; and | ||
|
(4) [ |
||
| schools that do not have a family violence prevention program, | ||
| address skills relating to the prevention of family violence. | ||
| (p-2) A school district may develop or adopt research-based | ||
| programs and curriculum materials for use in conjunction with the | ||
| program developed under Subsection (p). The programs and | ||
| curriculum materials may provide instruction in: | ||
| (1) child development; | ||
| (2) parenting skills, including child abuse and | ||
| neglect prevention; [ |
||
| (3) the information regarding adoption described by | ||
| Subsection (p)(2); and | ||
| (4) assertiveness skills to prevent teenage | ||
| pregnancy, abusive relationships, and family violence. | ||
| 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. | ||
| TO: | Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Education K-16 |
| FROM: | Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1207 by King (Relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity awareness program in public schools.), 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
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 701 Texas Education Agency |
| LBB Staff: | JMc, JPE, SL |
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Quick Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SB1207
Q
Who authored SB1207?
SB1207 was authored by Texas Senator Phil King during the Regular Session.
Q
When was SB1207 signed into law?
SB1207 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
Q
Which agencies enforce SB1207?
SB1207 is enforced by Texas Education Agency (TEA), State Board of Education (SBOE) and Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Q
How urgent is compliance with SB1207?
The compliance urgency for SB1207 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
Q
What is the cost impact of SB1207?
The cost impact of SB1207 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
Q
What topics does SB1207 address?
SB1207 addresses topics including education, education--primary & secondary, education--primary & secondary--curriculum, family and family--parent & child.
Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025
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