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The Texas House on Tuesday proposed changes to dramatically limit the scope of a wide-ranging Senate bill that could transform how the state’s universities function and teach students.
As written, Senate Bill 37 would prohibit professors from teaching students to adopt the idea that any race, sex, ethnicity, or social, political or religious belief is superior to another. It would also set up a system by which degree programs could be eliminated if the state were to determine they do not provide a return on investment for students. The bill would give the governor-appointed regents who oversee each university system in the state the authority to approve every job posting for tenured faculty in liberal arts, communications, education and social work. Finally, it would allow anyone to report schools for violation of the law. The bill already cleared the state Senate.
In the House, state Rep. Matt Shaheen, a Plano Republican, proposed removing references to social and political beliefs and the rating system. His version also only allows regents to overturn the hirings of provosts, vice presidents and deans, and limits who can report violations of the law to students and those involved with the university.
The bill is part of an effort by Republicans to address what they see as a liberal bias in higher education. They are pushing back on professors who, in recent years, not only asserted their authority to teach controversial topics, such as critical race theory, but also criticized their universities for sending police to arrest pro-Palestine protesters on campus. It follows a 2023 ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Higher education advocates and experts have raised alarms about the bill in part because they believe it invites political interference that will ultimately hurt the state’s colleges and universities. Dozens of other states’ efforts to reform higher education, such as the Stop the Woke Act in Florida, are tied up in court after professors and students sued, alleging those laws infringed on their First Amendment right to free speech.
Shaheen and Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican and the bill’s author, said they want to ensure institutions are providing degrees of value affordably and efficiently.
Democrats argue the institutions are already working toward, and in some cases achieving, that goal.
Reference
Read the Texas House's proposed changes to Senate Bill 37Reference
Read a comparison between the Texas Senate and House's versions of SB 37Shaheen laid out his changes Tuesday at the House Higher Education Committee, the bill’s first test in the lower chamber. If the House approves the changes, the two chambers would have to negotiate a final version of the bill. Creighton will likely want to keep some of the bill’s stricter requirements.
“Making Texas a national leader in higher education requires bold, uncompromising action,” said Erin Wilson, Creighton’s communications director.
The House committee heard testimony from about a dozen professors who oppose the bill. More were expected to testify Tuesday evening before the committee decides whether to advance the bill for a full vote on the House floor.
Valerie Martinez-Ebers, a political science professor at the University of North Texas, said a DEI ban has already led to her self censor in the classroom and driven her colleagues to teach in other states.
“If SB 37 passes, I’ll be even more afraid to say anything about viewpoints, much less the mistreatment of minority groups,” she said.
The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
Disclosure: University of North Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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