SB 205 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.

SB 205 requires Texas public schools to include fetal development instruction in health classes for students in grades 7 and 8, with optional implementation in other grades. The curriculum must cover human reproduction, pregnancy, infertility, birth defect prevention (including drug/alcohol/environmental risks), and detailed fetal growth stages by trimester. This policy applies to all public school districts beginning the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects middle school students and school districts responsible for implementing the mandated health education content.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2024

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 12, 2024 Last action May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · May 12, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was amended to add a new requirement for fetal development instruction in grades 7-8 and to reorganize the structure of health education requirements in the Texas Education Code. The changes clarify the scope of fetal development instruction and update the formatting of existing health education requirements.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly requires fetal development instruction for students in grades 7-8, while also maintaining requirements for other grade levels. The scope of health education requirements was reorganized but the core requirements remain substantially the same.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the State Board of Education to adopt rules requiring students in grades 7-8 to receive instruction on fetal development as part of the health curriculum.

Reorganized the structure of health education requirements in Section 28.004(c), moving from a single subsection to a more detailed breakdown of specific health education components.

Updated the formatting and numbering of health education requirements to better organize the various components including physical health, mental health, nutrition, and counseling services.

Added specific language requiring instruction on fetal development to be age-appropriate and medically accurate, with requirements for describing growth and development during each trimester of pregnancy.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2025

How they voted

25–4

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 30

May 12, 2025

D Democratic10

5 Yea 4 Nay 1

50% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Public Education

lower

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

May 12, 2025

Amended

Amendment fails of adoption

upper

May 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors