A federal judge has issued a court order temporarily stopping Katy ISD, Houston ISD, and Plano ISD from enforcing key parts of SB 12 — a Texas law that banned LGBTQIA+ student clubs and restricted how schools could support students of all backgrounds. The districts must now pause the policies used to shut down student organizations like the GSA and limit inclusive programming while the lawsuit plays out in court.
The injunction is in place now, but a final ruling could take months or years. What happens in Katy ISD in the meantime depends on whether the school board acts — and whether we, the community, hold them accountable.
What Is SB 12?
SB 12 is a sweeping Texas law that went into effect September 1, 2025. It bans school programs and conversations related to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation across all Texas public and charter schools, from pre-K through 12th grade.
In practice:
- Events celebrating Black, Latine, Asian, and Indigenous history have been restricted
- Cultural awareness trainings for staff have been limited
- Teachers can no longer use transgender students' chosen first names — students must be addressed by legal first or last name only
- GSA clubs (Genders & Sexualities Alliances) have been banned
Federal Law Was Already on the Students' Side
Before this ruling, students already had a powerful legal protection: the federal Equal Access Act of 1984. The law requires any public school that receives federal funding and allows extracurricular clubs to give all student groups equal access — it cannot pick and choose which clubs are allowed based on their subject matter.
The Equal Access Act was originally passed because Christian student groups wanted the right to meet on public school campuses after hours. Congress agreed that schools shouldn't be able to discriminate against clubs based on viewpoint. For decades, GSAs have relied on that same principle to fight back when schools tried to shut them down.
SB 12 put Texas schools on a direct collision course with the Equal Access Act. When Katy ISD closed the GSA, it was a potential violation of federal civil rights protections that have been on the books for over 40 years.
What the Court Decided
On February 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge ruled that Katy ISD, Houston ISD, and Plano ISD must stop enforcing four specific parts of SB 12 while the legal case continues — a pause on enforcement while the court determines whether the law is constitutional.
The case was brought by the ACLU of Texas, the Transgender Law Center, and Baker McKenzie on behalf of the GSA Network, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), the Texas AFT, a teacher, and two students, including Katy ISD student Adrian Moore.
"This is a critical victory amidst a surge of state-sponsored discrimination and censorship," said Brian Klosterboer, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas. "We will continue advocating for the rights of every student, parent, and educator in Texas to be able to live and speak freely, authentically, and safely."
Although the order currently applies only to three districts, Judge Eskridge was clear: every Texas school district is obligated to "comply first and foremost with federal law, even when doing so requires disregarding contrary state directives."
In other words, the Equal Access Act doesn't stop applying just because Texas passed a law that conflicts with it.
What We're Asking the Board to Do
The court order is clear, and federal law has been clear for decades. Here's what we're asking Katy ISD's Board of Trustees to do now:
- Fully comply with the federal court order
- Reopen the GSA and all student clubs shut down under SB 12
- Stop enforcing the local policies used to restrict student clubs and student protections
- Issue clear, written guidance to teachers and staff
- Communicate openly with families
This is about real students in Katy ISD classrooms who deserve to feel safe, seen, and able to fully participate in school.
Take Action
1. Email the Board Today
Ask trustees to call a special meeting, comply with the court order, and reopen the GSA and all restricted clubs.
Katy ISD Board Members:
- 📧 James Cross (President)
- 📧 Dawn Champagne (VP)
- 📧 Lance Redmon
- 📧 Rebecca Fox
- 📧 Amy Thieme
- 📧 Morgan Calhoun
- 📧 Maryellen Cuzela
Sample Message:
I'm writing to urge the board to immediately and fully comply with the February 20, 2026 federal court order blocking enforcement of SB 12. This means reopening the GSA and all student clubs that were shut down, issuing clear guidance to teachers and staff, and communicating openly with families. Federal law has protected students' right to organize since the Equal Access Act of 1984 — this ruling reaffirms that. Every day without action is another day students are denied a safe space they are legally entitled to. Please call a special meeting and act now.
2. Show Up and Speak
Attend the next board meeting (March 30th as of this writing) and sign up for public comment.
How to Sign Up for Public Comment:
Email publicspeakers@katyisd.org by 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Include your full name, mailing address, the specific agenda item(s) you're addressing, and whether you live in the district or have children enrolled.
Meeting Details:
Meetings are typically held on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the Education Support Complex, 6301 South Stadium Lane, Katy, Texas 77494.
The next board meeting will be held on March 30th.
What to Expect:
Arrive at least 15 minutes early (by 4:45 p.m.) to sign in.
3. Spread the Word
Share this post with your neighbors, networks, and community. Every person who emails or shows up is another voice the board can't ignore.
Houston and Plano ISD Communities
The same injunction covers Houston ISD and Plano ISD — and those boards need to hear from their communities too.
- Houston ISD: 📧 trustees@houstonisd.org | 713-556-6000
- Plano ISD: 📧 trustees@pisd.edu | 469-752-8100
The fight for strong, inclusive public education continues — and our community is paying attention.