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HB 1981

Relating to the use of public resources by a public school officer or employee to engage in certain political activities.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Hillary Hickland

HB 1981 prohibits Texas public school employees from using school resources for partisan political activities, establishing restrictions with unspecified penalties.

Referred to Public Education
#education--primary&secondary--otherschoolpersonnel(i0246) #education--primary&secondary--teachers(i0242) #education--schooldistricts(i0220) #ethics(i0345) #politicalsubdivisions(i0588)
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Bill Summary · HB 1981

Legislative bill overview

HB 1981 restricts public school officers and employees from using public resources (time, facilities, equipment, funds) to engage in partisan political activities, campaign work, or candidate endorsements. The bill establishes penalties for violations and clarifies what constitutes prohibited political activity in the school context.

Why is this important

Public schools receive taxpayer funding, and this bill addresses concerns about whether school employees should use those resources for partisan political purposes. The distinction between protected civic engagement and prohibited partisan activity affects both employee rights and public trust in educational institutions remaining politically neutral.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "political activity": The bill's scope depends heavily on how "political activities" are defined—does it include discussing policy issues, voter registration drives, or only explicit campaign work? Overly broad language could restrict legitimate civic education.
  • Employee free speech concerns: Critics may argue the restrictions infringe on employees' First Amendment rights to political speech during non-work hours or using personal resources, or create chilling effects on civic participation.
  • Enforcement and subjectivity: Determining whether an employee violated the policy could involve subjective judgment about intent and resource use, potentially leading to inconsistent application or disputes over borderline cases.

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

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