HB717 - Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.

  89R108 JTZ-D     By: Leach H.B. No. 717       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in   religious speech or prayer while on duty.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 22.012 to read as follows:           Sec.   22.012.     RELIGIOUS SPEECH OR PRAYER. The right of an   employee of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to   engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty may not be   infringed on by the district or school or another state   governmental entity, unless the infringement is:                 (1)     necessary to further a compelling state interest;   and                 (2)     narrowly tailored using the least restrictive   means to achieve that compelling state interest.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.