TX SB237

School districts and open-enrollment charter schools may adopt paid parental leave policies providing 8 consecutive weeks for primary caregivers and 4 consecutive weeks for spouses following birth, surrogacy, or adoption of a child

Employees must work full-time for at least 12 months to qualify, leave eligibility expires 6 months after birth or placement, and employees cannot be required to exhaust vacation or sick leave before using parental leave

Creates a "Healthy Families Allotment" under the Foundation School Program to reimburse school districts for the full cost of employee compensation during paid parental leave periods

Expands free prekindergarten eligibility to include children (age 3+) of classroom teachers employed at Texas public primary or secondary schools

Texas Education Agency must submit biennial reports to the legislature by November 1 of each even-numbered year documenting parental leave usage, costs, and recommendations; provisions apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year