Texas House Bill HB 5112

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/13/25

Caption

Relating to a policy prohibiting antisemitism at public institutions of higher education.

Summary

HB 5112 would require each public institution of higher education in Texas to adopt a policy prohibiting antisemitism-motivated violence and speech intended to imminently incite violence or other unlawful action against Jewish people or the Jewish community. The bill ties its definition of antisemitism to existing state law in the Government Code, which incorporates recognized examples of antisemitic conduct. The required policies must also include disciplinary sanctions for students and student organizations that engage in the prohibited conduct. Those sanctions may include expulsion of a student or disbanding of a student organization. The bill applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, while the funding-related enforcement provision applies to appropriations for fiscal years beginning September 1, 2026.

Impact

HB 5112 would add a new section to the Education Code governing public institutions of higher education and would require governing boards to adopt and enforce antisemitism-related conduct policies. It also creates a financial compliance mechanism by prohibiting an institution from spending state appropriations for a fiscal year until its governing board certifies compliance to the Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The bill would affect public colleges and universities, student organizations, and students subject to campus discipline.

Sentiment

The available context shows the bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee and no votes or committee testimony were provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee sentiment in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a campus safety and anti-discrimination policy aimed at protecting Jewish students and communities.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope of the prohibited conduct and how institutions would interpret and enforce the antisemitism standard, especially where speech is involved. Supporters are likely to emphasize protection from antisemitic violence and intimidation, while critics may focus on free-speech concerns, the breadth of disciplinary authority over students and organizations, and the use of state funding as an enforcement tool. No specific stakeholder positions are included in the provided transcripts or votes.