Relating to the protection of students from sexual grooming.
Summary
HB 1484 would create a new subchapter in the Education Code called the “Sexual Grooming Protection Act.” It would give a parent who believes their child is being subjected to “sexual grooming” at a public school the right to move the child to another public or private school, with state Chapter 48 education funding following the student to the new school. The bill also directs the commissioner of education to adopt rules to administer the program and to guard against fraud and abuse.
The bill defines “sexual grooming” broadly as any effort to desensitize children to sexual experiences or to normalize sexual relationships with adults or with children of the same or opposite sex. It further states that participating private schools would not be subject to state control over their programs, curricula, or operations beyond existing rules for accredited private schools in effect on January 1, 2025, and it prohibits the use of federal funds or Available School Funds for the program. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
If enacted, HB 1484 would change Texas education law by creating a new parent-triggered school transfer mechanism tied to allegations of sexual grooming and by redirecting state per-pupil funding to the selected public or private school. It would also require the Texas Education Agency commissioner to write implementing rules, while limiting state oversight of participating private schools and barring the use of certain funding sources for the program.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed in strongly protective terms for parents and students, with an emphasis on school choice and safeguarding children. There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history in the provided materials, so no direct evidence of support or opposition is available from hearings or floor action. The bill was referred to the House Public Education Committee on March 11, 2025, and no further action is shown.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern the bill’s broad and subjective definition of “sexual grooming,” which could be applied to a wide range of classroom content or school interactions. Another likely issue is the funding mechanism, since the bill would allow state education dollars to follow a student to a private school while also limiting state control over those schools’ operations. Critics may also object to the exclusion of federal funds and Available School Funds, as well as the potential for disputes over whether a parent’s determination alone is sufficient to trigger a transfer.
To Amend The Law Concerning The Offense Of Sexually Grooming A Child; And To Include Bribing Or Attempting To Bribe A Child In The Offense Of Sexually Grooming A Child.
Enacts the "New York state child anti-grooming act" which establishes the crimes of grooming of a child in the first and second degree and predatory sexual misconduct toward a child enrolled in school in the first and second degree; updates the codes of conduct in schools to include training on predatory misconduct and grooming; requires updates to mandatory reporter training; classifies grooming of a child in the first degree and predatory sexual misconduct towards a child in the first degree as a sex offense for the sex offender registry.