Texas Legislation Introduces New Opportunities for High School Athletes with Proposed House Bill 619

In Texas, significant changes could be on the horizon for high school athletics as House Bill 619 moves through the legislative process. Proposed by state representative Barbara Gervin Hawkins, this bill aims to allow high school athletes the opportunity to transfer to different school districts for athletic reasons, a shift that could impact numerous students statewide.

If House Bill 619 is passed, beginning on September 1, 2025, high school athletes will be able to transfer to a school outside of their current district one time without the district being able to deny the request. This means that students looking for better athletic opportunities have a clear route to change schools.

According to the proposed bill, a student must be under 19 years old and eligible for grades 9 through 12 in order to use this transfer option. Both the receiving school district and the student’s parent or guardian must agree and sign off on the transfer for it to be valid. Furthermore, once a student transfers, they cannot make another transfer before graduating.

An important aspect of the bill is the protection it provides. If passed, student-athletes who take advantage of this transfer provision will not face any penalties or sanctions from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) for making the transfer. This could open up new avenues for athletes who previously felt limited by their current school options.

For the bill to become law, it requires a two-thirds majority vote from the Texas House of Representatives. If everything goes according to plan, this new legislation would take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

As this bill is discussed in the state legislature, students, parents, and coaches across Texas are eagerly watching, as it may well reshape the landscape of high school sports in the Lone Star State.