House Bill No. 1457 proposes to amend the Education Code to include a new requirement for public high school students to complete a course on modern conflicts as part of their social studies curriculum. Specifically, it modifies Section 28.025 by adding a half credit in modern conflicts to the existing social studies requirements, which include U.S. history, government, and economics. Additionally, the bill introduces a new Section 28.0122 that outlines the specific content that must be covered in the modern conflicts course, including topics such as the modern history of Russia, the People's Republic of China, North Korea, the Gulf War, and the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

The bill stipulates that the State Board of Education must ensure that the course on modern conflicts aligns with the newly established guidelines. The changes will apply to students entering the ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, while students in higher grades during that school year will follow the previous curriculum requirements. The act will take effect 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 28.025 (Education Code 28)