S.B. No. 401 amends the Education Code to clarify the participation of non-enrolled students in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities. The bill allows public schools to provide non-enrolled students, who meet league eligibility standards, the opportunity to participate in UIL activities in the same manner as enrolled students. However, it introduces a provision where the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school can adopt a policy to decline participation for non-enrolled students. This new language is inserted as Subsection (c-2).

Additionally, the bill specifies that non-enrolled students may only participate in UIL activities for the school they would be eligible to attend based on their residential address, unless the school is subject to a policy declining participation. In such cases, the student may participate in activities at the closest school not subject to that policy, as outlined in the new Subsection (e-1). The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 33.0832 (Education Code 33)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 33.0832 (Education Code 33)
Engrossed: Education Code 33.0832 (Education Code 33)
House Committee Report: Education Code 33.0832 (Education Code 33)
Enrolled: Education Code 33.0832 (Education Code 33)