SB 11 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools.

SB 11 would allow Texas public school districts or charter schools (not affiliated with religious organizations) to adopt a policy requiring daily voluntary prayer and Bible/religious text reading periods on school campuses. To participate, students or employees must provide written consent from a parent/guardian or the employee themselves, acknowledging the choice to participate and waiving legal claims related to the policy. The bill prohibits mandatory participation, using public address systems for these activities, or substituting this time for instruction, and requires physical separation for those who opt out. School districts must also follow specific guidelines to accommodate non-participants, and the Texas Attorney General would provide legal guidance and defend districts in related lawsuits.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized in enrolled form with minor formatting corrections and the addition of new sections establishing implementation timelines and effective dates. The core policy content regarding prayer periods in schools remained substantively unchanged from the engrossed version.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the enrolled version includes the same policy provisions as the engrossed version.
TIMELINE

Added Section 3 requiring school boards to vote on adopting the prayer policy within six months of the act's effective date.

Added Section 4 specifying the policy applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Added Section 5 establishing immediate effect if passed by two-thirds vote, otherwise taking effect September 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies and removed placeholder text from the engrossed version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2025 · House May 22, 2025

How they voted

236
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Mar 18, 2025
D Democratic10
3 Yea 6 Nay 1
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
53
Key actions
16
Committee
11
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 22, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (90-49-5)
house
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education K-16
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
20 primary · 29 co-sponsors

Sponsors