Senate Bill No. 326 aims to establish a clear procedure for public schools and institutions of higher education in Texas to determine whether a student's violation of the student code of conduct was motivated by antisemitism. The bill introduces new sections to the Education Code, specifically Section 37.0095 for public schools and Section 51.9791 for institutions of higher education. Both sections mandate that when taking disciplinary action against a student for behavior that may reasonably be determined to be motivated by antisemitism, the respective educational institutions must utilize the definition of antisemitism as outlined in Section 448.001 of the Government Code, including relevant examples.

The provisions of this bill will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year for public schools and the 2025-2026 academic year for institutions of higher education. The bill is designed to ensure that disciplinary actions are consistent and informed by a standardized definition of antisemitism, thereby promoting fairness and clarity in handling such cases. The act will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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