The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 16 on April 12 along party lines, with Republicans backing the bill and Democrats pushing against its passage. The bill would prevent public universities and their faculty from “compelling” students to adopt certain beliefs, effectively banning critical race theory in higher education.

The bill states that professors and universities cannot teach students to believe “that any race, sex or ethnicity or social, political or religious belief is inherently superior to any other race, sex, ethnicity or belief.”

If passed by the governor, universities, including UT, would have to implement the policy by Jan. 1.

Bills banning critical race theory at the university-level have previously faced opposition, including a similar bill in the House.

After supporting a critical race theory ban in K-12 education in the last legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released an announcement Wednesday celebrating the bill’s passage in the Senate.

The bill’s author, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, tweeted Tuesday the bill would encourage debate while protecting students’ existing opinions. S.B. 16 will now move to the House for a vote.