Texas HB 619/Transfer for Athletic Purpose

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Bill Text: TX HB619 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced​

Texas House Bill 619 (Prefiled Legislation)​

TX State Legislature page for HB619

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Bill Title: Relating to the transfer for an athletic participation purpose of a student from the school district of the student's residence to another district.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB619 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB619-Introduced.html

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	89R3727 RDR-D
	By: Gervin-Hawkins​	H.B. No. 619​

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED​
	AN ACT​
	relating to the transfer for an athletic participation purpose of a
	student from the school district of the student's residence to
	another district.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 25.036, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
	(a-1) Any child, other than a high school graduate, who is
	younger than 19 years of age and eligible for enrollment in grades 9
	through 12 on September 1 of any school year may transfer not more
	than once for an athletic participation purpose from the child's
	school district of residence to another district in this state if
	both the receiving district and the applicant's parent or person
	standing in parental relation to the applicant jointly approve and
	timely agree in writing to the transfer for an athletic
	participation purpose. The receiving district may not deny a
	transfer application under this subsection on the basis of a
	child's sex, race, national origin, ancestral language, or
	disability. A transfer under this subsection remains effective
	until the child graduates from the receiving district, unless the
	child withdraws from the receiving district.
	SECTION 2. Section 33.081, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
	(b-1) The University Interscholastic League may not
	penalize or sanction a student for transferring to a school
	district for an athletic participation purpose, or penalize or
	sanction the school district that receives the transferring
	student, if the transfer meets the requirements of Section
	25.036(a-1).
	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.

I believe this bill needs to be voted down. Please give me some other opinions. Thank you

 

[bandkid]

It’s a refile. If it goes like it did last session, it won’t make it far enough in the process to even get a vote.

 

[Lonestar JR]

Thanks to PGN742 for the details on HB 619. Please inform me if I missed it, but I don't see where a High School is prohibited from transfering in more than one athlete per year or per season. I dont's see any language in this bill that prohibits any school from transfering as many athletes per year as it wants. This bill needs to be amended so that a school cannot have anymore that one transfer in its athletic program at a time. This means if it has a transfer who is a senior, it cannot have a transfer as a freshman, sophmore, or junior. When the senior graduastes the school can recruit another transsfer. Mayabe that part is covered in another part of the Texas Education Code, but I doubt it. As it is currently written, I don't see where HB 619 improves the fairness of high school sports in Texas. This bill needs to be worked on to correct the unfairness of blatant student athlete transfers. Has anyone considered the unfairness to the student body that loses great athletes through the trans fer program? Your comments, please!

 

[PNG742]

The bill allows as many transfers as it will take. You won’t have to go the District Committee to be approved as a transfer for athletic purposes. It only states that once you transfer you have to graduate from that school are not play sports if you leave that school. This is bad for all sports in Texas. IMO they should go back to the way it used to be you sit out a year if you transfer.

 

[bandkid]

I posted this in another thread and am reposting here:

I say this with nothing but respect for Representative Gervin-Hawkins. She’s a level-headed, effective legislator. I respect her.

But folks, don’t overestimate the bill’s odds of passage. This bill, 89(R) HB 619, is a refile of a bill from last session, 88(R) HB 4468. HB 4468 was heard in the House Committee on Public Education in April, 2023, and went nowhere afterward because of overwhelming opposition. Assuming he retains his committee, I’m skeptical Chairman Buckley will rehear the bill this session in light of the opposition. There was no Senate companion filed last session and there’s been none filed for this session to date. There’s a reason for that, and I very much doubt that will change.

Odds are, HB 619 is dead on arrival.

 

[pngfan316]

 

[PNG742]

Here comes the stacked teams. This will automatically take effect on Sept.1 2025 even if it does not get the votes to pass. Only way I see it to not not take effect is if Governor Abbott vetoes it. Is their any other way to stop this bill? Someone please give me some insight. Thank you

 

[CS]

Terrible.

 

[IndianFan]

IMO, sports at every level have been ruined by motives that are not considerate of sportsmanship, fairness, loyalty or any other notion of character. I stopped caring about the NFL, have little to no interest in NCAA, and have been disgusted by the high school teams that seem to be going in that direction. I hope high school football does not continue on that path.

 

[bandkid]

Guys, it's April 22. There are 41 days left in this session. House Bill 619 has been sitting in committee for over six weeks and hasn't even gotten a hearing yet. There have been no floor votes--it hasn't passed either chamber. At this point in the session, chances are it's dead as a doorknob.