Relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to revocation or denial of educator licenses and certificates for publicly celebrating assassinations or acts of politically motivated violence, student protests, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

This bill relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to revocation or denial of educator licenses and certificates for publicly celebrating assassinations or acts of politically motivated violence and student protests. The bill requires the board of educational examiners (BOEE) to disqualify an applicant for a license or certificate, and to revoke the license or certificate of a person, for publicly celebrating any act of politically motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk, in a manner that demonstrates moral turpitude or unfitness to teach or serve in a position of trust with children; creates a substantial likelihood of material and substantial disruption to the learning environment; or undermines public confidence in the integrity of the education profession. A single verified instance of celebrating an act of politically motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk, whether on social media, in public statements, or in any medium accessible to students or the public, shall constitute sufficient grounds for such disqualification or revocation. The BOEE is required to initiate revocation proceedings upon receipt of credible evidence that a person holding a license or certificate publicly celebrated an act of politically motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk. This provision applies retroactively to September 10, 2025. The bill prohibits the BOEE from revoking, suspending, or denying a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the BOEE solely on the basis of a person’s or applicant’s expression of speech that is protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States or a religious, political, or ideological viewpoint. The bill provides that this provision shall not be construed to prohibit the BOEE from disqualifying an applicant for a license or certificate, or from revoking the license or certificate of a person, for publicly celebrating an act of politically motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk. The bill requires the BOEE to revoke the license of a teacher or administrator for encouraging or leading a student protest. The bill requires school districts to consider a student’s participation in a student protest as an unexcused absence for purposes of Code chapter 299 (compulsory education). The bill also requires the board of directors of a school district to extend the school calendar for each day that a student protest occurs in any attendance center in the school district. The bill defines “celebrate”, “credible evidence”, and “student protest”, and the bill is effective upon enactment.