WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas is committed to protecting children, defending parental rights, and ensuring that Texas public schools are safe environments where students can learn free from harm, exploitation, or abuse; and

WHEREAS, reports of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, and the concealment of such abuse within Texas public schools continue to surface with alarming regularity across the state, demonstrating a systemic failure to adequately protect students and hold bad actors accountable; and

WHEREAS, the reported incidents are not isolated, but rather reflect a broader crisis requiring legislative scrutiny, transparency, and decisive corrective action; and

WHEREAS, Texas State Representative Mitch Little has publicly warned about the urgency of this issue, recently stating on X:

“These stories are coming out every single day. We must address this in our public schools with greater aggression and determination. As the Legislature considers interim charges, I hope this will be among them”; and

WHEREAS, the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate both possess authority during the interim to conduct hearings, compel testimony, review agency conduct, and recommend legislative reforms to address systemic failures affecting the safety of Texas children; and

WHEREAS, the continued absence of comprehensive interim oversight into sexual abuse in public schools risks further harm to students and undermines public trust in Texas’ education system; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls upon the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to include addressing the sexual abuse crisis in Texas public schools as formal interim charges to the appropriate House and Senate committees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such interim charges should include, but not be limited to, an examination of:

  • The prevalence of sexual abuse and misconduct in Texas public schools;
  • Failures in reporting, investigation, and enforcement mechanisms;
  • The role of school districts, administrators, and the Texas Education Agency in preventing, addressing, or concealing abuse;
  • The effectiveness of existing laws and safeguards intended to protect students; and
  • Legislative remedies necessary to strengthen accountability, transparency, and child protection.