S.B. No. 1925 is a legislative bill aimed at reforming truancy laws in Texas. It amends various sections of the Education Code and Family Code to enhance the enforcement of compulsory school attendance requirements. Key changes include the empowerment of peace officers and school district attendance officers to apply truancy prevention measures and file complaints against parents for violations. The bill allows school districts to adopt truancy prevention measures at their discretion, rather than mandating them, and specifies that truancy courts will conduct proceedings without a jury. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that requires school districts to notify parents when a student has accumulated three unexcused absences within a four-week period.

The bill also modifies the burden of proof in truancy cases, ensuring that a finding of truant conduct can only be made if the state proves the conduct beyond a reasonable doubt. It establishes a 60-day limitation period for filing petitions related to truancy and repeals several outdated provisions. The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and any conduct occurring before the effective date will be governed by the previous laws. Overall, the bill aims to provide a more flexible and supportive approach to addressing truancy while ensuring accountability for both students and parents.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.091, Education Code 25.0915, Education Code 25.095, Education Code 25.0951, Family Code 65.007, Family Code 65.010, Family Code 65.053, Family Code 65.055, Family Code 65.101 (Family Code 65, Education Code 25)