Under Texas' Senate Bill 2929, sports officials in the state will have the power to immediately eject fans who are deemed to be displaying disruptive behavior.
The "Safe Stands Act" implements a one-strike rule that allows officials to remove spectators acting "inappropriately" on the first offense, a significant change from previous years that required warnings before ejection.
Repeat offenders will also face additional consequences under the legislation.
"The bill’s intent is to enhance the safety and integrity of athletic events by providing officials with broader authority to maintain order and respond immediately to spectator misconduct," Texas Policy Research wrote in a post online. "By removing the requirement for a verbal warning or ongoing misconduct, it allows event officials to act swiftly in response to a single instance of behavior they deem disruptive or inappropriate, such as harassment, threats, or other forms of interference with the event."
The Safe Stands Act is set to apply beginning with the 2025-'26 school year. The legislation is framed as a response to increasing concerns about the safety and respect afforded to game officials, a topic that has received growing attention in recent UIL and education policy discussions.
