By: Campbell  S.B. No. 2986          (In the Senate - Filed March 14, 2025; April 7, 2025, read   first time and referred to Committee on Education K-16;   April 24, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee   Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 24, 2025,   sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2986 By:  Hinojosa of Nueces     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to use by a religious organization of public school or   institution of higher education facilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 11.173 to read as follows:          Sec. 11.173.  USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES BY RELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATION. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter   school may allow a religious organization to use the district's or   school's facilities to host religious worship, services, sermons,   or assemblies only if:                (1)  the use of the facilities does not interfere with   the district's or school's primary educational mission;                (2)  the religious organization provides the fair   market rental value or reimbursement for utilities, security, and   other costs related to the use of the facilities as determined by   the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the   school, unless waived by the board or governing body;                (3)  the religious organization agrees to be held   liable for any damages that occur in the organization's use of the   facilities; and                (4)  any additional requirements imposed by other law   for the use of the facilities are satisfied.          (b)  A state agency, political subdivision, school district,   or other governmental entity may not impose a penalty or sanction on   or deny funding to a school district or open-enrollment charter   school based on the district's or school's decision to allow a   religious organization to use the district's or school's facilities   in the manner provided by Subsection (a).          (c)  This section may not be construed to require a school   district or open-enrollment charter school to allow a religious   organization to use the district's or school's facilities for   religious purposes if the district or school elects not to do so.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.984 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.984.  USE OF INSTITUTION FACILITIES BY RELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATION. (a) In this section, "institution of higher   education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.          (b)  An institution of higher education may allow a religious   organization to use the institution's facilities to host religious   worship, services, sermons, or assemblies only if:                (1)  the use of the facilities does not interfere with   the institution's primary educational mission;                (2)  the religious organization provides the fair   market rental value or reimbursement for utilities, security, and   other costs related to the use of the facilities as determined by   the institution or the institution's governing board, unless waived   by the institution or the institution's governing board;                (3)  the religious organization agrees to be held   liable for any damages that occur in the organization's use of the   facilities; and                (4)  any additional requirements imposed by other law   for the use of the facilities are satisfied.          (c)  A state agency, political subdivision, or other   governmental entity may not impose a penalty or sanction on or deny   funding to an institution of higher education based on the   institution's decision to allow a religious organization to use the   institution's facilities in the manner provided by Subsection (b).          (d)  This section may not be construed to require an   institution of higher education to allow a religious organization   to use the institution's facilities for religious purposes if the   institution elects not to do so.          SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act do not affect   the terms of a contract entered into before the effective date of   this Act, except that if the contract is renewed, modified, or   extended on or after the effective date of this Act, the changes in   law made by this Act apply to the contract beginning on the date of   renewal, modification, or extension.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *