Texas House Approves Bill Expanding Political Control Over University Curriculum, Hiring

Texas is advancing significant legislative changes in higher education and student discipline. Senate Bill 37 aims to grant political appointees, specifically university regents appointed by the governor, unprecedented oversight of public universities, including authority to review and reject ideologically charged courses and reshape general education curricula to focus on workforce readiness and traditional educational goals, reflecting concerns about liberal bias and indoctrination in universities. Supporters argue this will increase the value and relevance of degrees, while critics warn it could undermine academic freedom and research. Concurrently, House Bill 6 has been revised to give schools more flexibility in student discipline, allowing prolonged in-school suspensions with regular reviews and more discretion in handling vaping offenses, while also easing restrictions on disciplining homeless and younger students for disruptive behavior. These disciplinary changes seek to address increased classroom disruptions post-pandemic, balancing the need for order with concerns about fairness and student welfare. Both legislative efforts reflect Texas lawmakers’ broader agenda to tighten control over education content and school discipline practices.