Relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.
LowStandard timeline
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council • Texas Education Agency
01
Compliance Analysis
Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
Implementation Timeline
Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
Compliance Deadline: June 20, 2025. All active contracts and job postings should reflect the new statutory title immediately to avoid ambiguity.
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (TBHEC) must update administrative rules to reflect the name change. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" regarding physical license cards; the online registry will likely update before physical licenses are re-issued.
Immediate Action Plan
1.Notify HR & Legal: Issue an internal memo confirming the immediate title change from LSSP to School Psychologist.
2.Verify Insurance: Obtain written confirmation from liability carriers that the new title is a covered class.
3.Update Templates: Modify standard employment contracts and vendor MSAs for the upcoming school year.
4.Audit Public Facing Info: Update school websites and staff directories to reflect the new title, ensuring compliance with truth-in-advertising standards.
Operational Changes Required
Contracts
Employment Agreements: Audit all current contracts for LSSPs. While the scope of practice is unchanged, the legal definition of the employee has changed. Execute addendums to update the title to "School Psychologist."
Vendor/Staffing MSAs: Service agreements with staffing agencies must be amended. If an MSA requires the provision of an "LSSP," and that license technically no longer exists in the Occupations Code, you risk contract disputes regarding qualified staffing. Update the language to "School Psychologist."
Hiring/Training
Job Descriptions: Update all internal JDs and organizational charts. Replace "LSSP" with "School Psychologist."
Recruitment: Update Applicant Tracking System (ATS) keywords. Recruiters must search for both terms during the transition period to capture out-of-state candidates (who already use the new title) and in-state candidates (who may still use the old title).
Credentialing: Update staff ID badges to reflect the new legal title, as this impacts how staff present themselves to parents and stakeholders.
Reporting & Record-Keeping
Policy Manuals: Update Special Education Operating Procedures and Student/Parent Handbooks. Any reference to LSSP must be changed to School Psychologist to ensure parents understand the credentials of the provider.
Insurance Policies:CRITICAL. Contact your professional liability carrier. Ensure your policy explicitly covers "School Psychologists." If your policy restricts coverage to "LSSPs," the carrier could technically deny a claim for a "School Psychologist" if the policy language is not updated to match the statute.
Fees & Costs
Administrative Costs: Low. Primary costs are administrative hours for document updates and potential costs for re-issuing ID badges.
License Fees: No statutory fee changes are included in the bill, though TBHEC may charge standard duplicate license fees if an employee requests a physical license with the new title before their renewal date.
Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations
Scope of Practice vs. Title: The title "Psychologist" in Texas has historically been restricted to doctoral-level providers. While HB2598 allows Master's-level school practitioners to use the title "School Psychologist," it does *not* grant them the independent practice scope of a Clinical Psychologist. Watch for TBHEC rulemaking that may strictly regulate how this title is used outside of a school setting to prevent public confusion.
Medicaid Billing: Monitor guidance from Texas Medicaid/SHARS. Billing codes often rely on specific provider types. Ensure the title change does not trigger a temporary rejection of claims due to mismatched provider taxonomies in the claims system.
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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.
The bill author has informed the committee that school psychologists have specialized training in both education and mental health and are currently designated in statute as licensed specialists in school psychology (LSSP). In 2023, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council passed an amendment to its rules allowing LSSPs to use the title school psychologist. The bill author has informed the committee that "school psychologist" is a more widely understood term, and using that title helps parents and teachers more easily understand the services these specialists provide. H.B. 2598 seeks to address this issue by replacing references to an LSSP in applicable state law with references to a school psychologist.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2598 amends the Education Code, Government Code, and Occupations Code to replace applicable references to a person employed as a psychologist by a public school district as a "licensed specialist in school psychology" with references to such a person as a "school psychologist."
HB2598 legally renames the "Licensed Specialist in School Psychology" (LSSP) credential to "School Psychologist," effective immediately. This statutory change aligns Texas terminology with national standards but triggers immediate administrative requirements for HR classifications, vendor contracts, and professional liability insurance policies to ensure coverage and compliance. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
Q
Who authored HB2598?
HB2598 was authored by Texas Representative Angie Button during the Regular Session.
Q
When was HB2598 signed into law?
HB2598 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
Q
Which agencies enforce HB2598?
HB2598 is enforced by Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and Texas Education Agency.
Q
How urgent is compliance with HB2598?
The compliance urgency for HB2598 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
Q
What is the cost impact of HB2598?
The cost impact of HB2598 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
Q
What topics does HB2598 address?
HB2598 addresses topics including education, education--primary & secondary, education--primary & secondary--other school personnel, occupational regulation and occupational regulation--other trades & professions.
Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025
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