Relating to verification of excused absences from public school for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses, the official text

H.B. No. 367

AN ACT

relating to verification of excused absences from public school for

students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to read as

follows:

(b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending

school for:

(1) the following purposes, including travel for those

purposes:

(A) observing religious holy days;

(B) attending a required court appearance;

(C) appearing at a governmental office to

complete paperwork required in connection with the student's

application for United States citizenship;

(D) taking part in a United States naturalization

oath ceremony;

(E) serving as an election clerk; or

(F) if the student is in the conservatorship of

the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as

determined and documented by the department, in an activity:

(i) ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or

263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule

the participation outside of school hours; or

(ii) required under a service plan under

Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code;

(2) a temporary absence resulting from an appointment

with health care professionals for the student or the student's

child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the

same day of the appointment; or

(3) an absence resulting from a serious or

life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the

student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's

parent or guardian provides on a form adopted by the district under

Subsection (g) a certification from a physician licensed to

practice medicine in this state specifying the following

information, as determined by the physician:

(A) the student's illness;

(B) a statement that the illness is serious or

life-threatening;

(C) [and] the anticipated period of the student's

absence relating to the illness or related treatment; and

(D) a statement that the illness makes the

student's attendance infeasible during the anticipated period of

absence described by Paragraph (C).

(g) For purposes of excusing a student with a serious or

life-threatening illness from attending school under Subsection

(b)(3), a school district:

(1) shall adopt a form to provide the certification

described by that subsection; and

(2) may not require the student or the student's parent

or guardian to provide more documentation or information than is

required by the form adopted under Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, each school district shall adopt the form required by

Section 25.087(g), Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 4. 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.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 367 was passed by the House on May 6,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 367 was passed by the Senate on May

27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor