District administrators provided trustees a high‑level summary of several bills passed by the Texas Legislature that will affect Kilgore ISD operations in coming school years, including rules for instructional materials, public comment and complaint processes, and other compliance obligations.

Doctor Baker told the board the packets summarized laws with staggered effective dates: some provisions start immediately, some take effect in the 2025–26 school year, and others have later implementation schedules. He described the legislative overview as informational and asked trustees to read the materials and raise questions.

Trustees and staff discussed several notable items summarized by staff. One new law requires districts to publish and approve lists of reading materials prior to campus events such as Scholastic Book Fairs; campuses will need to post potential book lists and the district will need a board vote after a 30‑day posting period before materials are approved for campus fairs. Staff said districts can set up review committees for materials and that portions of the law allow districts to delegate review to a committee composed mostly of non‑teaching staff.

Trustees also discussed a bill that, as presented to the board, mandates display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms beginning in the 2025–26 school year; staff noted legal advice from counsel and outside groups will likely be needed and that advocacy organizations were already preparing challenges. On public comment and complaint procedures (cited in the materials as Senate Bill 12), staff said districts must formalize complaint and comment channels and may be required to hold meetings outside regular school hours.

Staff emphasized several open questions. TEA guidance and additional legal advice were anticipated for implementation details. For example, staff told trustees the new statutory phone rule (discussed elsewhere on the agenda) leaves enforcement method and discipline levels to local policy; similarly, particulars about book review committees, timelines and appeals remained to be clarified.

Trustees asked about logistics for grievance hearings, closed sessions, and whether districts can charge fees related to complaint processes. Staff warned that some implementation steps could create operational challenges such as additional staffing or altered meeting schedules, and said the district will return with policy proposals and procedures once counsel and TEA guidance are available.