SB 24 requires the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to incorporate lessons on communist regimes and ideologies into the social studies curriculum for students in grades 4 through 12. The bill mandates that students receive age-appropriate instruction on key historical events, tactics used by communist movements, and the atrocities committed under various communist regimes. Specific topics include the Cultural Revolution, the Holodomor, the Great Terror, the Cambodian genocide, and the policies of the Communist Party of Cuba. Additionally, the bill calls for a comparative analysis between collectivist ideologies and the foundational principles of the United States, including individual rights, democracy, and free enterprise.

Beyond historical context, SB 24 also emphasizes modern threats posed by communist regimes and the common political and economic conditions that have preceded communist revolutions. The goal of the legislation is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the consequences of totalitarian and collectivist systems, reinforcing the importance of limited government, private property rights, and personal freedoms.

This bill reflects a broader push to ensure that students are well-informed about the impacts of communism and its historical failures. By integrating this curriculum, Texas aims to equip students with critical knowledge that aligns with the state's commitment to individual liberty, free markets, and democratic governance.

The Committee Substitute for SB 24 refines the originally filed version by narrowing its scope, reducing prescriptive requirements, and granting more flexibility to the State Board of Education (SBOE) in implementing the curriculum. One major change is the adjustment of the grade levels covered—while the original bill required instruction on communist regimes from kindergarten through 12th grade, the substitute limits this to grades 4 through 12, ensuring content is introduced at a more developmentally appropriate stage.

Additionally, the committee substitute removes several detailed mandates from the original bill. Notably, it eliminates the requirement for first-person accounts from victims of communist regimes and the obligation for SBOE to seek input from external organizations dedicated to commemorating communism’s victims. This revision reduces logistical challenges while still allowing for historical education on the topic. The committee substitute also cuts content related to modern propaganda tactics, public shaming, censorship, and forced conformity, focusing instead on historical events and a comparative analysis of communism versus U.S. founding principles.

Overall, the committee substitute streamlines SB 24 by maintaining its intent—ensuring students understand the impact of communism—while removing rigid mandates that could complicate implementation. These changes make the bill more flexible and likely to gain broader legislative support, as it keeps the historical focus while avoiding prescriptive ideological critiques.