Bill Text: TX HB3160 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 3160

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to Internet safety and technology protection policies in public schools and libraries.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-21 - Filed [HB3160 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB3160-Introduced.html

	89R9333 AMF-F

	By: Toth	H.B. No. 3160



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to Internet safety and technology protection policies in
	public schools and libraries.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 38.0233 to read as follows:
	Sec. 38.0233. INTERNET SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION
	POLICY. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the
	governing body of an open-enrollment charter school shall adopt an
	Internet safety and technology protection policy to protect a
	student accessing the Internet or using online instructional
	materials, technology, subscriptions, or other online resources or
	services, including online school library resources or
	subscriptions. The policy must:
	(1) require the district or school to comply with the
	Children's Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554);
	(2) require a vendor of online instructional
	materials, technology, subscriptions, or other online resources or
	services purchased by the district or school for access or use by a
	student to certify compliance with the federal prohibition against
	the transfer of obscene materials to minors under 18 U.S.C. Section
	1470 and the sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a
	minor under Section 43.24, Penal Code; and
	(3) create a procedure that allows the public to:
	(A) report concerns related to access of the
	Internet or use of online instructional materials, technology,
	subscriptions, or other online resources or services by district or
	school students; and
	(B) receive a response to those concerns from the
	district or school.
	(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	shall annually submit a report to the agency regarding concerns
	reported to the district or school under the procedure developed
	under Subsection (a)(3). The agency shall annually publish the
	reports received under this section for each district or school on
	the agency's Internet website.
	(c) A school district, an open-enrollment charter school,
	and the agency shall use all available legal and contractual
	enforcement options to ensure compliance with this section.
	Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner shall withhold from
	a school district or open-enrollment charter school that is not in
	compliance with Subsections (a) and (b) the district's or school's
	entitlement under Chapters 46 and 48 until the district or school
	comes into compliance.
	(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
	implement this section.
	SECTION 2. Chapter 441, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subchapter O to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER O. INTERNET SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION POLICY
	Sec. 441.251. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "public
	library" has the meaning assigned by Section 441.122.
	Sec. 441.252. INTERNET SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION
	POLICY. (a) A public library shall adopt an Internet safety and
	technology protection policy to protect a minor accessing the
	Internet or online library resources or services, including
	subscriptions. The policy must:
	(1) require the library to comply with the Children's
	Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554);
	(2) require a vendor of online resources or services
	purchased by the library for access or use by a minor to certify
	compliance with the federal prohibition against the transfer of
	obscene materials to minors under 18 U.S.C. Section 1470 and the
	sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor under
	Section 43.24, Penal Code; and
	(3) create a procedure for the public to:
	(A) report concerns related to a minor's access
	of the Internet or use of online library resources or services
	through the library; and
	(B) receive a response to those concerns from the
	library.
	(b) A public library shall annually submit a report to the
	commission regarding concerns reported to the library under the
	procedure developed under Subsection (a)(3). The commission shall
	annually publish the reports received under this section for each
	public library on the commission's Internet website.
	(c) A public library and the commission shall use all
	available legal and contractual enforcement options to ensure
	compliance with this section. A public library not in compliance
	with Subsections (a) and (b) is ineligible for state funding.
	(d) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
	implement this section.
	SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act:
	(1) each school district and open-enrollment charter
	school shall adopt an Internet safety and technology protection
	policy as required by Section 38.0233, Education Code, as added by
	this Act; and
	(2) each public library shall adopt an Internet safety
	and technology protection policy as required by Section 411.252,
	Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act:
	(1) the commissioner of education shall adopt rules
	for the administration of Section 38.0233, Education Code, as added
	by this Act; and
	(2) The Texas State Library and Archives Commission
	shall adopt rules for the administration of Section 411.252,
	Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.