If you work for a Texas state agency, city, county, school district, or any other government entity, there is a good chance you are now legally required to complete AI awareness training. Texas Government Code Section 2054.5193 establishes a mandatory annual training requirement for government employees who use computers as a significant part of their job - and the requirement is already in effect.
This guide explains the law, who it applies to, what the training must include, and how your agency can achieve and maintain compliance. Whether you are an IT director planning a rollout, an HR manager tracking completions, or an individual employee looking to fulfill your obligation, this article covers everything you need to know.
What Is Texas Government Code Section 2054.5193?
Section 2054.5193 of the Texas Government Code requires state agencies and local government entities to ensure that their employees complete AI awareness training that has been certified by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). The law was created to ensure that government employees across Texas understand the basics of artificial intelligence, recognize its risks, and follow best practices when using AI tools in their work.
The legislative history begins with Senate Bill 271 (SB 271), passed during the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023. SB 271 directed DIR to establish an AI training program for state employees and laid the groundwork for a statewide approach to AI governance. In 2025, House Bill 2060 (HB 2060), passed during the 89th Legislature, expanded and refined these requirements. HB 2060 broadened the scope to include local government entities and established clearer standards for what the training must cover.
Together, these bills created a comprehensive framework codified in Chapter 2054 of the Texas Government Code, specifically Sections 2054.5191 through 2054.5193. Section 2054.5191 addresses DIR's role in establishing the training program. Section 2054.5193 defines the employee training requirement itself, including who must complete it and how often.
Key Point
Section 2054.5193 is not a recommendation or a guideline. It is a statutory mandate. Government agencies must ensure their eligible employees complete DIR-certified AI awareness training every fiscal year.
Who Must Comply?
The training requirement applies broadly across Texas government. Two categories of organizations are covered:
State Agencies
All Texas state agencies are required to comply. This includes executive branch agencies, the offices of statewide elected officials, and agencies under the jurisdiction of the legislature. If your organization is listed in the DIR agency directory, this requirement applies to you.
Local Government Entities
Following the passage of HB 2060, the training mandate extends to local government entities as well. This includes cities, counties, special districts, independent school districts (ISDs), community college districts, river authorities, and other political subdivisions of the state. If your organization is a unit of Texas government - at any level - you should evaluate whether the requirement applies to your workforce.
Which Employees Must Complete the Training?
Within covered organizations, the law targets employees who use a computer for 25 percent or more of their regular duties. In practical terms, this includes the vast majority of government office workers - anyone who regularly uses email, databases, word processing software, spreadsheets, web applications, or other computer-based tools as part of their job.
This is intentionally broad. The legislature recognized that AI capabilities are increasingly embedded into everyday software tools, from email platforms to document editors. Even employees who do not think of themselves as "technology workers" are likely interacting with AI-powered features in the tools they already use.
- Covered: Administrative staff, analysts, managers, IT staff, legal and policy professionals, communications staff, finance and HR personnel, and most other office-based roles
- Likely exempt: Employees whose duties are primarily field-based, manual, or operational with minimal computer use (less than 25 percent of their duties)
What Must DIR-Certified Training Cover?
DIR has published specific AI Training Program Certification Standards for FY 2025-2026 that define what any certified training program must include. These standards are organized into three core areas:
1. General Explanation of AI and How Public Sector Employees Can Use It
The training must provide a clear, accessible overview of what artificial intelligence is and how government employees encounter it in their work. This includes defining key concepts like machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI. It must explain how AI tools are being adopted across government - from automating routine tasks to assisting with data analysis, drafting communications, and supporting decision-making. Importantly, it must also address authorized use policies and the importance of following agency-specific guidelines when using AI tools.
2. Risks and Limitations of AI
Employees must understand that AI systems are not infallible. The training must cover common failure modes, including hallucinations (AI-generated content that is fabricated or incorrect), outdated information, data quality issues, algorithmic bias, and discriminatory outcomes. It must also address the contextual limitations of AI - situations where AI tools are not appropriate or reliable - and teach employees how to assess the risk level of different AI use cases. Legal compliance is a critical component, covering both Texas state law and relevant federal requirements.
3. Best Practices for the Responsible and Ethical Use of AI
The final standard focuses on building good habits. The training must cover the human-in-the-loop principle (keeping humans involved in AI-assisted decisions), data privacy and security considerations, transparency and public trust, methods for verifying AI-generated outputs, and building a culture of accountability around AI use. Employees should finish the training understanding not just what AI can do, but how to use it responsibly in a government context.
Important
Only training programs that have been reviewed and certified by DIR meet the statutory requirement. Completing a generic AI course from a non-certified provider does not satisfy Section 2054.5193, even if it covers similar topics.
DIR Certification - What It Means and Why It Matters
The Texas Department of Information Resources serves as the certifying body for AI awareness training programs. DIR reviews submitted training curricula against the published certification standards and approves those that meet all requirements. As of this writing, DIR maintains a list of certified providers on its website.
DIR certification matters for one simple reason: it is the only way to satisfy the legal requirement. An agency cannot develop its own internal training and consider the mandate fulfilled unless that training has been submitted to and certified by DIR. Similarly, purchasing a course from a vendor that has not obtained DIR certification will not count toward compliance.
Evolve AI Institute is a DIR-certified training provider (Certification #26), offering a complete AI awareness training program specifically designed for Texas government employees. Our certification is valid through August 31, 2026, covering the current fiscal year.
When evaluating training providers, agencies should verify:
- The provider appears on DIR's official list of certified training programs
- The certification is current and covers the applicable fiscal year
- The training addresses all three DIR certification standards
- The program includes an assessment to verify employee comprehension
- The provider issues verifiable certificates of completion
The Annual Requirement and Fiscal Year Deadlines
AI awareness training under Section 2054.5193 is not a one-time obligation. It is an annual requirement that must be completed each fiscal year. The Texas state fiscal year runs from September 1 through August 31. For FY 2025-2026, this means all eligible employees must complete their training by August 31, 2026.
Agencies are also required to report their compliance status to DIR. This reporting serves two purposes: it allows DIR to track statewide adoption of AI training, and it holds agencies accountable for meeting their obligations. Agencies that fail to achieve full compliance must document the gap and provide an explanation.
For large organizations, starting early is critical. Rolling out training to hundreds or thousands of employees takes time, especially when factoring in scheduling, accessibility accommodations, and the inevitable need for some employees to retake the assessment. Agencies that wait until mid-summer to begin their rollout risk missing the deadline.
Planning Tip
Begin your training rollout no later than the start of Q3 (March). This gives your workforce a full six months to complete the approximately one-hour course and provides a buffer for employees who are on leave, need accommodations, or require multiple assessment attempts.
How to Choose a DIR-Certified Training Provider
Not all DIR-certified programs are created equal. While every certified provider meets the minimum standards, agencies should consider several additional factors when selecting a training solution:
- Accessibility compliance: Government agencies are required to meet accessibility standards. Look for training platforms that comply with WCAG 2.2 AA or AAA guidelines, ensuring that employees with disabilities can fully participate.
- Self-paced delivery: Government employees have demanding schedules. A self-paced online course allows employees to complete training on their own time without disrupting operations.
- Assessment and verification: The training should include a meaningful assessment - not just a completion checkbox. Look for scenario-based questions that test real comprehension, with a clear passing threshold.
- Certificate management: Agencies need verifiable proof of completion. The provider should issue certificates with unique identifiers that can be independently verified, making compliance reporting straightforward.
- Bulk enrollment and reporting: For agencies with large workforces, the platform should support bulk enrollment, progress tracking by organization, and exportable completion reports that can be submitted to DIR.
- Government-appropriate pricing: Look for providers that offer volume pricing, accept purchase orders, and are registered on the Texas CMBL (Centralized Master Bidders List) for streamlined procurement.
Evolve AI Institute's DIR-certified training program meets all of these criteria. Our platform was purpose-built for Texas government compliance, with WCAG 2.2 AAA accessibility, instant certificate generation, employer verification tools, and dedicated support for agency-wide deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
All employees of Texas state agencies and local government entities who use a computer for 25 percent or more of their regular duties must complete DIR-certified AI awareness training each fiscal year.
AI awareness training must be completed annually by August 31, which marks the end of the Texas state fiscal year. For FY 2025-2026, the deadline is August 31, 2026.
DIR-certified training must cover three core areas: a general explanation of AI and how public sector employees can use it, the risks and limitations of AI, and best practices for the responsible and ethical use of AI.
DIR certification means the Texas Department of Information Resources has reviewed and approved a training program as meeting all statutory requirements. Only DIR-certified training satisfies the legal mandate under Section 2054.5193.
Agencies that fail to comply must report their non-compliance to DIR. Non-compliance may result in increased scrutiny during audits, reputational risk, and potential legislative consequences as AI governance requirements continue to expand.
Yes. Most DIR-certified training providers, including Evolve AI Institute, allow unlimited retakes on the final assessment. Employees must achieve a passing score of 80 percent or higher to earn their certificate of completion.
Next Steps for Your Agency
Compliance with Texas Government Code Section 2054.5193 is not optional, and the clock is ticking on the current fiscal year. Here is a practical checklist to get started:
- Identify your eligible workforce. Determine which employees use a computer for 25 percent or more of their duties. In most agencies, this will be the majority of your staff.
- Select a DIR-certified provider. Verify that the training program appears on DIR's official certified list and covers the current fiscal year.
- Plan your rollout. Set internal deadlines well ahead of the August 31 statutory deadline. Communicate the requirement to all eligible employees.
- Track and report. Use your provider's reporting tools to monitor completion rates by department and generate the documentation you will need for DIR reporting.
- Retain records. Keep certificates of completion and compliance reports on file for audit purposes.
If you are ready to get started, register for Evolve AI Institute's DIR-certified AI awareness training today. For agency-wide deployments and bulk pricing, contact our team to discuss your organization's needs.