Table of Contents
For this weekly feature, the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) profiles a noteworthy bill going through the legislative process. The bill may relate directly to TCDD’s Public Policy Priorities or another disability-related issue.
Bill of the Week: SB 1447
Senate Bill (SB) 1447, relating to standards adopted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) regarding public schools’ use of electronic devices and software applications. SB 1447 was authored by Sen. José Menéndez from San Antonio, District 26.
Share This Bill
We’ve created a Bill of the Week one-pager (PDF) for SB 1447. This is a simplified explanation of the bill that you can share with your representative and personal network.
Background
In 2023, lawmakers passed House Bill (HB) 18, also known as the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, to protect minors from harmful digital practices. The SCOPE Act requires parental consent for agreements between digital service providers and minors. However, without clear legislative guidance, some school districts adopted restrictive interpretations of the SCOPE Act, unintentionally creating barriers to learning for students with disabilities.
Over 500,000 students rely on special education-related services in Texas, (PDF, 91 pages, 1.7 MB) with some using assistive technology as part of their individualized education programs (IEPs) for meaningful and appropriate communication, access, and involvement. The Texas Education Code defines an assistive technology device as “any device, including equipment or a product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a student with a disability.” This technology may include applications or devices that help with recording, taking notes, text-to-speech, voice recognition, screen reading, braille translation, and more.
When districts restricted access to non-compliant software, thousands of students lost essential educational support. SB 1447 seeks to remove these barriers by building on the SCOPE Act to clarify assistive technology access, provide clear guidance for school districts, and ensure a balance between student privacy protections and accessibility.
What does the bill do?
SB 1447 would amend the Texas Education Code’s requirement that TEA adopt standards for allowed electronic devices and software applications used by a school district or open-enrollment charter school. It would mandate that the agency provide exceptions to the standards for students with disabilities, consistent with student’s IEP or 504 plans. This would allow students to use reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, electronic devices, or software applications that otherwise might not be permissible under the SCOPE Act standards.
If passed, SB 1447 would take effect on Sept. 1, 2025, or immediately if it received an affirmative vote of two-thirds in both the House and the Senate. The bill would apply beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
“What [SB 1447] does is create a carve out for students with IEPs or 504 plans with the school so they can utilize the accommodations needed to focus on their education.”
Sen. José Menéndez, SB 1447 author
Where is the bill in the process?
On March 24, 2025, SB 1447 passed the Senate. The bill is waiting for committee referral in the House.
The bill received a public hearing before the Senate Education K-16 Committee on March 11, 2025. You can watch the discussion on it here, beginning at the 2:18:21 mark.
Who supports the bill and why?
The following comments were given as testimony at the March 11 hearing on SB 1447:
- Disability Rights of Texas: Alexander Zaibaq, a special education attorney with Disability Rights Texas, testified in support of the bill. Zaibaq presented two key reasons for the committee to support the bill. First, he highlighted that SB 1447 addresses the unintended consequences of the SCOPE Act, which has hindered students with disabilities from accessing essential accommodations. Second, he emphasized that the exceptions provided in SB 1447 would offer clear guidance to school districts and students regarding which accommodations could be provided while still meeting the SCOPE Act’s standards. Zaibaq further explained the conflict between the SCOPE Act and existing laws, noting, “there was tension between providing reasonable accommodations as required under Section 504 and the IDEA, and also complying with the SCOPE Act’s standards.” He concluded that SB 1447 would resolve this conflict, ensuring both legal compliance and access to necessary educational support.
The following groups also registered their support for the bill: The Arc of Texas, Autism Society of Texas, Texas AFT, Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and Texas State Teachers Association.
Who opposes the bill and why?
There was no registered opposition to the bill.
Additional Information
TCDD has identified early childhood and inclusive education as one of its public policy priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature:
Ensure children with disabilities ages 0-22 receive necessary services to promote healthy growth and development to support long-term success and independence. Children with disabilities in Texas deserve access to quality care and education such as inclusive childcare, therapy and case management services, special education services, and transition planning, which meet or exceed federal standards to increase childhood and long-term outcomes.
How much will the bill cost?
The Legislative Budget Board found that SB 1447 would not impact the state budget in a significant way.
Is there a House companion to the bill?
There is no House companion to SB 1447.
Stay Informed
For the latest information about where SB 1447 is in the process, follow the bill on the Texas Legislature Online. To receive future legislative updates from TCDD, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Bill of the Week Updates
Here is an update on previous TCDD Bills of the Week for the 89th legislative session.
HB 645 has been reported favorably out of the House Committee on Human Services. It is now waiting to be scheduled for consideration by the full Texas House. The bill would require the implementation of a statewide program to provide certain co-navigation services to people who are deaf-blind.
HB 1063 would allow for the creation of tenant legal service offices in local governments to assist low-income and disabled tenants. It has been scheduled for a hearing on April 1 before the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
SB 568 has been reported favorably out of the Senate Education K-16 Committee. The bill, which would restructure funding for special education programs in public schools, now waits for consideration by the full Texas Senate.
