Texas teachers and principals are now in their second school year under House Bill 6, the 2025 law that rewrote much of the state's school discipline code. The governor signed it June 20, 2025. It passed with enough votes to take effect immediately, and it applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.
Here is what the enrolled bill changed.
One incident can be enough
A teacher may send a student out of class for repeatedly interfering with teaching or with classmates' learning, for bullying, or for unruly, disruptive or abusive conduct aimed at the teacher, other adults or other students. The law now says a single incident can justify removal, and parents must be notified.
The student cannot rejoin that class unless the teacher agrees in writing, a campus placement review committee rules it is the best or only option, or a written return-to-class plan exists. That plan must be drafted by an employee whose main duties are not teaching.
Suspensions
In-school suspension no longer has a time limit, but an administrator must review each one at least every 10 school days, and the student must get behavior support and schoolwork comparable to class. Out-of-school suspension stays capped at three school days.
Children below third grade can be sent home only for weapons, conduct that threatens classmates' immediate safety, documented repeated or significant disruption, or drug or alcohol offenses.
Vapes, off-campus conduct and expulsion
A first offense of having or using an e-cigarette can now send a student to an alternative campus known as a DAEP (disciplinary alternative education program). When a district skips that step, the student serves at least 10 school days of in-school suspension.
Mandatory expulsion for the most serious listed offenses, such as weapons, aggravated assault, sexual assault, arson and kidnapping, applies whether the conduct happens at school or elsewhere. Retaliating against or harassing a school employee or volunteer, anywhere, means a DAEP placement. In limited cases, districts may teach expelled students through a virtual program and must provide a computer and internet access when needed.
