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Bill

HB 295

Relating to including antisemitism in the definition of bullying for the purpose of school discipline policies.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Matt Shaheen

HB 295 adds antisemitism to Texas school bullying definitions to ensure Jewish students receive explicit protection and consistent disciplinary enforcement against harassment.

Left pending in committee
#bullying(s0543) #education--primary&secondary--general(i0230) #humanrelations(i0410) #minors--health&safety(i0533) #religion(i0646)
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Bill Summary · HB 295

Legislative bill overview

HB 295 would expand Texas school bullying definitions to explicitly include antisemitism as a form of bullying subject to school discipline policies. The bill aims to provide clearer protections and enforcement mechanisms for Jewish students experiencing harassment based on their religion or ethnicity in school settings.

Why is this important

Antisemitic incidents in schools have increased in recent years, and explicit inclusion in bullying codes ensures these incidents are consistently recognized and addressed through established disciplinary procedures. Clear definitions help school administrators, teachers, and students understand what conduct violates policy and what consequences apply, potentially reducing underreporting and inconsistent enforcement.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Debate over whether the definition is narrow enough to target genuine antisemitic bullying versus broad enough to capture legitimate criticism of Israeli policies or Zionism, which some argue could chill protected speech
  • Implementation concerns: Questions about teacher training, consistency in identifying antisemitic versus other forms of bullying, and whether existing bullying frameworks adequately address religion-based harassment
  • Precedent implications: Whether explicitly naming antisemitism creates pressure to similarly enumerate other religious, ethnic, or identity-based forms of bullying, potentially leading to lengthy, complex policies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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