Texas Twin Bill is Law!!

Governor Perry signed HB 314, "The Twin Bill", today, making it a law. The Twin Bill gives parents of multiples the choice to place their children in the same or separate classrooms in our public schools. Before today, individual school districts made the decision to separate or not. Many school districts arbitrarily separated all twins, regardless of parental wishes, citing studies that were largely based on perceptions rather than actual data.

A few of my fellow Austin Mothers of Multiples championed a petition, drafted the bill, and took it to our Capitol. Their efforts have paid off for all families with multiples in our great state. In the words of fellow AMOM, Julie Robinson, who headed the effort, "This is a historic day for multiples since Texas is now the 2nd state to pass the Twin Bill and the 4th to pass any legislation regarding multiples in this country. Minnesota was first to pass this law and Illinois and Oklahoma passed a resolution in the House on this issue. There are also currently 18 states working to pass the Twins Bill, 8 of which have pending legislation. This is obviously a nationwide issue and I'm so proud that I reside Texas, who will be among the front runners and early-adopter states in equality for multiple birth children and their parents."

I don't know what choice Steve and I will make when the time comes for the buddies to start Kindergarten. But, I do take comfort in the fact that the choice is ours.