The Texas Education Agency (TEA) added 21 non-certified school employees and outside contractors to its “Do Not Hire” registry on May 8, 2026, marking what agency records indicate is the first major public implementation of a 2025 law that allows for blacklisting based on an arrest.
According to TEA news releases, the action serves as an initial test of Senate Bill 571, which expanded the state’s misconduct registry beyond classroom teachers to include roles such as custodians, bus drivers, and security personnel.
Under the authority of SB 571, the TEA now lists individuals on the registry immediately following a qualifying arrest, prior to a criminal conviction. These entries are designated as “under investigation” until the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) completes a review; however, if the case results in a conviction, the TEA stated the bar becomes permanent.
Commissioner Mike Morath characterized the May 8 placements as a reflection of a “zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct that threatens the safety of Texas students”.
State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), a primary author of the legislation, described the broader goal of the law as closing “pass the trash” loopholes that historically allowed accused non-teaching staff to seek employment in different districts.
The statute created Chapter 22A of the Texas Education Code, which mandates that principals report suspected misconduct to their superintendent within 48 hours. TEA guidance clarifies that superintendents who fail to report with the intent to conceal an allegation commit a state jail felony.
The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) has advised school districts that these expanded reporting requirements necessitate updates to vendor contracts and hiring affidavits.
Further, under House Bill 4623, the state now permits up to $500,000 in civil liability per claimant if a school is found grossly negligent in hiring individuals who commit sexual misconduct.
While the TEA says it has used “under investigation” markers for certified teachers since 2019, legal experts at the Bertolino Law Firm noted that the extension to non-teaching staff will place new pressure on the SBEC hearing process to distinguish between arrests and substantiated misconduct.
The TEA has informed administrators that additional training on the registry’s expanded scope will be issued “later this year,” as school entities are now required to annually certify their compliance with the system.
Commissioner Mike Morath stated that the coordinated effort between TEA divisions and local law enforcement is intended to “ensure the safety of Texas students” through rigorous oversight of all school-related personnel.