House Bill No. 3739 mandates that the State Board of Education implement new rules requiring students in grades 7 through 12 to receive instruction on fetal development and the consequences of fetal termination as part of the public school health curriculum. The bill specifies that this instruction must cover medically assisted fetal termination procedures, other forms of intentional or negligent fetal termination, the growth and development of an unborn child throughout pregnancy, and available pregnancy-related resources. Notably, the resources provided must support carrying a child to term and cannot be associated with organizations that advocate for fetal termination procedures.

The provisions of this bill will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year. It will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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