The Texas Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on two controversial bills — one that would legalize certain firearms and another that would restrict how public university professors teach topics related to race and gender.
Senate Bill 1596 would remove short-barrel firearms from the state’s list of prohibited weapons. Possessing such firearms is currently a felony unless they are properly registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A companion bill is also being heard in a House committee.
Also up for a vote is Senate Bill 37, a legislative priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The measure would create politically appointed boards at every state college and university to review faculty curriculum. The goal, supporters say, is to prevent the teaching of critical race theory and lessons on systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege.
Critics of the legislation have raised concerns about academic freedom and political interference in higher education.
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