The bill, H.B. No. 641, amends Section 28.002 of the Education Code to mandate that public school districts in Texas incorporate digital citizenship instruction into their curricula. Specifically, it requires that students in the sixth grade complete this instruction as part of their social studies curriculum. The bill emphasizes the importance of understanding the potential criminal consequences of cyberbullying and outlines the definition of digital citizenship, which includes standards for appropriate online behavior.

Additionally, the bill expands the definition of digital citizenship to include various components such as media literacy, the ability to identify credible sources of information (including content modified by generative artificial intelligence), digital ethics, respectful discourse, and cyberbullying prevention. The new requirements will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and the bill 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)