Texas lawmakers target property taxes, abortion and gender transition care in first bills for the 2025 session

The Texas Tribune reported on the first bills filed for the 2025 legislative session. More about the bills can be read here. Below is the Tribune's report on the DEI-related bills:

"Rep. Carl Tepper, R-Lubbock, filed a bill that would prohibit counties, school districts, state agencies and any other governmental entity from establishing diversity, equity and inclusion offices. It also would bar them from giving preferential treatment to applicants based on their race, sex, color or ethnicity, and it would allow employees to bring legal action against government entities that violate the law.

Rep. Terri Wilson, R-Galveston, filed House Bill 436, which prohibits governmental entities from requiring job applicants to provide a diversity, equity and inclusion statement. It would also forbid governmental agencies from requiring employees to participate in DEI training.

These proposals come after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 17 last year, which dissolved DEI programs at public universities."