As part of the GOP convention, delegates established protecting Texas children as a priority for the next legislative session.
In the convention report, delegates listed several action items to better safeguard children and their families. The proposals include steps to prevent abuse in schools, protect parental rights, and prohibit children’s exposure to obscene material and devices.
The priority comes amid ongoing reports of educator sexual misconduct across Texas.
Republican delegates are seeking stricter hiring screenings, increased authority for Texas’ inspector general for educator misconduct, and stronger penalties for violating the Education Code, which underwent multiple revisions during the last legislative session.
Senate Bill 571 is one such revision, requiring the State Board for Educator Certification to temporarily suspend teaching certifications for teachers arrested for sexual misconduct or who pose an “imminent threat” to student safety.
The TEA has also appointed Levi Fuller as the first inspector general for educator misconduct. “The overall picture is, fix the problem, fix the problem, whatever we’ve got to do to fix the problem,” Fuller said of the issue.
Republican delegates are also seeking to ban nondisclosure agreements that conceal educator misconduct and protect whistleblowers who report it.
The delegates further want policies that strengthen families, which they called a fundamental component of child protection and well-being. Proposals include banning same-sex adoption, ending no-fault divorce, and establishing a presumption of equal (50/50) parenting time in child custody cases.
Republican delegates also urged an end to state funding and implementation of programs that interfere with family sovereignty and student privacy. Their proposals target social-emotional learning, school-based mental health surveys and health programs, while also restricting student data collection through online platforms, apps, and artificial intelligence.
Several of these priorities build on legislation passed during the 89th Legislature. In particular, Senate Bill 12, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” expanded parental rights in public schools.
Delegates also called for banning the sale and display of obscene devices in family-friendly stores, limiting them to sexually oriented businesses.
The proposal mirrors the 2025 House Bill 1549, which sought the same restrictions but never made it out of committee. Another measure, Senate Bill 3003, would have regulated the online sale of obscene devices. Both bills could be reintroduced during the next legislative session.
The 90th Legislative Session will begin January 12, 2027.
