S.B. No. 24 amends the Texas Education Code to include an understanding of communist regimes and ideologies as part of the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for public school students in grades 4 through 12. The bill introduces new subsections (h-11) and (h-12), which require the State Board of Education to adopt age-appropriate instructional content that covers various aspects of communism, including its history, tactics, and the impact of communist regimes on societies. Specific topics outlined in the bill include historical events and atrocities associated with communism, a comparative analysis of communist ideologies versus U.S. founding principles, and modern threats posed by such regimes.

Additionally, the State Board of Education is mandated to seek input from victims of communism and recognized organizations dedicated to commemorating these victims when developing the curriculum. The bill stipulates that the new standards must be adopted and published by July 31, 2026, with implementation beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)
Engrossed: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)
House Committee Report: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)
Enrolled: Education Code 28.002 (Education Code 28)