“This bill violates the religious freedom of all faiths and Texans of non-faith.”

Carisa Lopez, political director for the progressive Texas Freedom Network, regarding a bill approved by state lawmakers this week that would allow public schools to use campus safety money to hire chaplains to counsel students. Supporters of the bill argue that chaplains can provide critical counseling to help prevent school shootings by addressing student mental health, amongst other issues, while critics claim the measure violates student religious freedom and allows an entryway for evangelizing. (Associated Press — May 25, 2023)