Texas to hold public schools accountable for sex abuse, end immunity protections

Texas is cracking down on sex abuse by public school employees and school districts that cover it up.

The Legislature passed two bills this year designed to deal with abuse perpetrated by teachers and school staff members.

One bill, SB 571, closes reporting loopholes that have allowed teachers to transfer to other schools following a misconduct incident.

“No more cover-ups. No more passing the trash,” Gov. Greg Abbott said as he signed the measure Sunday night.

The law tightens reporting deadlines for incidents to 48 hours instead of seven days, and expands the types of misconduct that must be reported to include “physical mistreatment or threats, ‘romantic’ relationships, inappropriate communications, or failing to maintain appropriate boundaries with a student or minor,” Texas Scorecard reports.

These could be grounds for mandatory termination and loss of certification, KXAN reports.

It also grants education contractors greater access to a state database – still under construction – of misconduct cases.

Texas Scorecard maintains its own interactive map showing thousands of sexual assault and misconduct cases reported in Texas schools over the last few years.

The state created a Do Not Hire Registry in 2019 at the urging of Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who also sponsored this bill. Now all personnel, including contractors, must be screened through it. 

No more ‘sovereign immunity’

Another measure, House Bill 4623, which Abbott signed Friday, eliminates legal immunity for public school districts in cases of sexual abuse – paving the way for civil lawsuits by victims and their families. 

The legislation, which received bipartisan support in the House and passed the Senate unanimously, allows victims to sue public schools that are grossly negligent or complicit in allowing sexual abuse by school employees. 

Several recent high-profile abuse cases highlighted systemic failures in how schools handle abuse and misconduct violations, Scorecard reported. 

The bill removes “sovereign immunity” protections long afforded to public school districts in Texas, meaning districts can now be held financially accountable in court. It also eliminates immunity for employees found to have committed abuse or failed to report it, including teachers, coaches, administrators, bus drivers, and even school board members. 

Damages will be capped at $500,000 per claimant, and plaintiffs can recover legal fees and court costs. The measure applies to all Texas public schools, including open-enrollment charter schools, but not to private schools, which already do not have governmental immunity. 

“This is a significant step forward in holding public school districts accountable,” said Christin Bentley, chair of a Texas GOP initiative focused on protecting children in schools. 

Sen. Angela Paxton, a former teacher, delivered emotional testimony during the Senate debate, calling out school officials who enabled or ignored abuse. 

“Child sexual predators embed themselves in the institutions we trust most – churches, camps, and yes, our schools,” the McKinney Republican said. “What’s worse than the abuse itself is when school district personnel turn a blind eye or enable it.” 

Texas joins a growing national conversation about how schools handle abuse claims and how much protection public institutions should have. Advocates say HB 4623 could become a model for other states considering similar reforms. 

“This isn’t just about Texas,” said Bentley. “It’s about making sure every child in every state is safe – and that no school can hide behind the law when it fails to protect them.” 

The Lone Star State has more than 5 million public school students and more than 700,000 school district employees, including about 375,000 teachers. 

The state recently enacted a $1 billion school choice program set to take effect in the 2026–27 school year – the largest day-one program in the nation. An estimated 100,000 students will receive scholarships in the program’s first year, with more added in subsequent years.  

Nationally, 18 states have passed universal school choice, allowing parents to choose the school – public or private – that best suits their child’s needs.