February 16, 2025Texas v. Becerra is a lawsuit filed by 17 states against the United States government that could effectively end 504 Plans for millions of students across the country.
The lawsuit was filed in late 2024 by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the Biden administration, which changed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to include gender dysphoria as a protected disability.
Notably, the lawsuit also argues that “Section 504 is unconstitutional.” The lawsuit says that “Section 504 is coercive, untethered to the federal interest in disability, and unfairly retroactive” and it asks for “permanent injunctive relief” that would block enforcement of Section 504.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act codified the civil rights of persons with disabilities and protected them against discrimination while ensuring their equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and public services.
It established rules regarding the treatment of people with disabilities by any entity that receives federal funds, including all public schools.
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