Texas Rep. Pushes Bill to Allow Sports-Driven High School Transfers

By Grace Gates

Reporting Texas

One member of the Texas House is challenging the University Interscholastic League’s longtime ban on transferring schools for athletic reasons. 

Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins,D-San Antonio, said she filed House Bill 619 after hearing the story of three San Marcos student-athletes who lost years of eligibility due to the current rule. Under the bill, high school students could change schools once for athletic purposes without punishment from the UIL. 

“ I know the world of opportunities that can be opened through sports,” Gervin-Hawkins said, mentioning her son’s college basketball scholarship. “Why would we hamper young people from taking advantage of those opportunities?”

The proposal comes alongside controversy over the NCAA’s transfer portal, which has sparked concerns about the integrity of the sports industry. Gervin-Hawkins proposed similar legislation in 2023 and said she received pushback from coaches around the state.

“From a coach’s standpoint, you want everything to be as fair as possible,” said John Berkman, assistant athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Marble Falls High School. “Allowing kids to transfer uninhibited would be a struggle for coaches to swallow.”

Berkman added that while the bill may benefit an individual athlete, it poses risks to team culture. 

“Sports in general has become so big about winning and winning at all costs,” Berkman said. “Winning is an aspect and a piece of the puzzle, but we really try to focus on character building, as these athletes are not even voting age yet.”

Emily Sparvero, an assistant professor in the kinesiology department at the University of Texas, said the transfer debate stems from what she calls the “commodification of an athlete.” 

“The messaging that as a child your value comes from your ability to produce athletically,”  Sparvero said. “That’s a really harmful message.” 

Sparvero also said many families are already spending vast amounts of money on club programs and private training, so a new reason to move schools could further burden parents. 

Gervin-Hawkins said she understands the downsides of the bill and worked with coaches to find solutions to their concerns, like limiting students to one move. She said the change would provide more transparency and give parents more authority over their child’s education. 

“A one-time opportunity to transfer to a school for athletic reasons means you don’t have to hide,” Gervin-Hawkins said. “We don’t have to accuse coaches of recruiting. Let’s put it out in the open and allow sensible people to make good decisions for our youth.”

Now a sophomore at Texas, Vance Pennington missed out on his last year of high school basketball due to eligibility issues with the UIL. 

“I didn’t transfer for athletic purposes, but that’s how they saw it,” Pennington said. 

He said Gervin-Hawkins’ proposal would have positively impacted his experience. 

“It would’ve allowed me to really enjoy my senior year a lot better,  allow our team to succeed a little more,” Pennington said. “ It really allows kids to pursue opportunity that they might not have in other places. I think that’s the biggest thing.” 

Sparvero agreed that the bill could provide greater chances for children to excel athletically. She said it would also level the playing field, as students are allowed to change schools to participate in art, music and academic programs. 

“If you had a great drama program at your school, and one of your actors had an opportunity to star in a movie, would we want to limit that?” Sparvero said. “Having to sit out or miss opportunities — it’s not serving [athletes] well.” 

Gervin-Hawkins’ bill is currently being reviewed in committee. While the state legislative session ends June 2, Sparvero said it’s likely the issue will stick around.  The representative said she will continue to file the bill until it passes or rules change. 

“I know what sports can do in terms of improving the quality of life of some of our young people,” Gervin-Hawkins said. “It may not happen this session, but I’m gonna fight like hell to see if it does.”