SB965

SB965 adds an express protection for religious speech or prayer by school-district and open-enrollment charter-school employees while on duty. The district, school or another state governmental entity may infringe that right only when the restriction is necessary to further a compelling state interest and is narrowly tailored using the least restrictive means to achieve it. In plain terms, a restriction needs a particularly strong justification and must not restrict more than necessary. The provision covers employees, not only classroom teachers, and does not favor a named religion. New Education Code section 22.012.

This is not a requirement for students to pray, a mandate for a school-sponsored prayer program or a ruling that every workplace restriction is invalid. The act states a test for restrictions; applying it in a particular classroom or work situation depends on the facts and governing law. It adds a school-employee provision alongside existing Texas religious-freedom protections, rather than creating religious freedom for the first time. It also does not displace federal constitutional requirements. Scope of the enacted provision; Existing Texas religious-freedom law; First Amendment text; Federal Constitution, Article VI.

Signed June 20, 2025, the law took effect September 1, 2025. The enrolled bill included an immediate-effect option, but the recorded Senate and House passage votes did not meet the required two-thirds-of-all-members threshold. History; Section 2 and vote certifications.