View as Webpage • May 7, 2023

Hearings this week will address:

• Bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education
• Bans on providing faculty tenure in public colleges and universities
• Offering ethnic studies courses in high schools
• Changes to teacher compensation and contracts
• The CROWN Act to ban discrimination by hairstyle in schools

Action Alert: Help Preserve High-Quality College Opportunities for Texans

On Monday, the House Higher Education Committee will consider two bills that threaten the quality and accessibility of Texas higher education. Senate Bill 17 bans diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in colleges and universities. And SB 18 bans faculty tenure at public higher education institutions in Texas.

These bills attempt to compromise students’ academic and social experiences on college campuses and make college faculty less diverse and inclusive of different backgrounds and ideas. DEI efforts ensure that students are supported in every aspect of their lives and college careers – from access and affordability to successful graduation. Banning tenure is an assault on academic freedom and would compromise how Texas universities attract top researchers and educators. 

Learn more about these bills and their harmful impact at NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s webpage: Texas Pro-Truth.

Here are actions you can take for Monday's hearing for DEI in colleges

Here are actions you can take for Monday's hearing for DEI in colleges:

• Make calls to your local representative.

• Make legislative office visits if you’re in the local Austin area and testify against these bills on Monday.

• Submit electronic comments via the House public comment portal.

• Engage with our digital campaign hosted by Every Texan expressing why these bills will hurt all Texans.

Priority Bills Target LGBTQ+ Youth

Advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion and trans rights gathered at the Capitol for several events last week to oppose several censorship, anti-DEI, and anti-LGBTQ+ bills. The House Speaker cleared the House gallery in response to advocates protesting these harmful bills, and Capitol police arrested two peaceful protesters. Many advocates, including organizations collaborating through the Teach the Truth Coalition, are still fighting back against these harmful proposals, which include SB 8, which creates sweeping bans on discussing gender and sexuality throughout all pre-K through 12^th grades and a private school voucher program; SB 13, which creates library book censorship council in school districts; and HB 900, which restricts the content of school library books and materials.

Previous Testimony Against SB 17 and SB 18

SB 18 is an Assault on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech – TLEEC Testimony on SB 18: Tenure and Faculty Employment, Submitted to Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, March 30, 2023 - See video

Prohibiting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies on College Campuses in Texas Hurts Students’ Academic and Enrichment Opportunities – TLEEC Testimony against SB 17, Submitted to the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, April 6, 2023 - See video