House Bill No. 641, introduced by Representative Gonzlez of El Paso, amends Section 28.002 of the Education Code to mandate that public school districts incorporate digital citizenship instruction into their curricula. This instruction will include information on the potential criminal consequences of cyberbullying and will specifically require students in the sixth grade to complete digital citizenship training as part of their social studies curriculum. The bill defines "digital citizenship" to encompass appropriate online behavior, media literacy, digital ethics, and cyberbullying prevention.

The bill further elaborates on the components of digital citizenship, emphasizing the importance of identifying credible sources of information, understanding digital ethics and etiquette, and recognizing rhetoric that incites violence based on race, religion, or political affiliation. The provisions of this Act will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and it will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)