AUSTIN (KXAN)— More Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) related legislation is being filed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session ahead of the filing deadline on March 14.
The legislation supports the ban of these practices on various levels in Texas.
On Monday, Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, filed Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 1565. These bills seek to expand the ban of DEI from public universities and colleges to public schools K-12.
Creighton introduced Senate Bill 17, which banned DEI in public higher education institutions. SB 17 passed the Texas House in May 2023 , and Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law during the Texas 88th Legislative Session in June 2023.
Earlier this month, Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, filed House Bill 2548, which seeks to stop public universities and colleges from requiring core classes that cover topics like systemic racism, social justice, gender identify and more.
The bills are separate, but related due to their similar language. SB 17 was more broad, and proposed legislation that follows the bill narrows in on more specific restrictions related to the DEI ban.
Non-partisan nonprofit Texas 2036 said it’s not uncommon for similar legislation to be filed in consecutive sessions.
“It’s very common,” Jordan Wat, director of government affairs for Texas 2026 said. “Oftentimes there are multiple bites at the apple to get a policy solution across the finish line…Historically, we often see pieces of legislation that are filed very thematically.”
The nonprofit added that legislation similar to bills that have become law, do hold more weight during session— with a better chance of becoming law through an extensive legislative process.
Critics of DEI and similar legislation worry about the progression and the impact.
“This is not some attack out of nowhere,” Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition said.
The Austin Justice Coalition held a press conference on Feb. 20, criticizing House Bill 2548 specifically.
“We feel that this basically, if you are anything outside of the status quo, we don’t want our institutions of higher education to let you teach about it,” Moore said. “And now we’re going to penalize our institutions, our college institutions.”
Gov. Greg Abbott and other republicans said DEI gives preferential treatment and have vowed to making things more fair by doing away with it.
“Schools must not push woke agendas on our kids,” Abbott said in his State of the State Address.
Wat said there’s still an extensive legislative process even after bills are filed, before they can become law. However, bills prioritized by the Governor could help move the needle.
“If something is prioritized by the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House or the Governor, it kind of looks like a front runner,” Wat said. “…the level of engagement throughout the process can see a bill that’s filed change dramatically by the end.”
