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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB2598

Regular Session

Relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB2598: Government Affairs Overview

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.

Rep. Angie Button·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council • Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Business Impact

Who HB2598 Affects

This legislation has regulatory implications for the following Texas businesses and organizations:

Regulatory Priority: low

Standard regulatory changes (effective 2025-06-20). Review during normal business planning.

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Education

Affected business types:

  • School districts
  • Charter schools
  • Private schools
  • Education service providers
View all education legislation

Key Operational Considerations

  • 1Job Descriptions: Update all internal JDs and organizational charts. Replace "LSSP" with "School Psychologist."

Estimated Cost Impact

lowMinimal cost impact anticipated.

Enforcing Agencies

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HB2598
Relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.
Low Urgency
Heavily Contested
House Vote109 - 22
YEA
NAY
83% in favor131 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
22
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Behavioral Health Executiv...TEA
Primary Author: Rep. Angie Button
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
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.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 10, 2025
Passed House
May 10, 2025
Passed Senate
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsEducationEducation--primary & SecondaryEducation--primary & Secondary--other School PersonnelOccupational RegulationOccupational Regulation--other Trades & ProfessionsPsychologists
03

House Authors

Rep. Angie ButtonRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (2)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

Explore more bills from this author and on related topics

More from Rep. Angie Button

View all bills by Rep. Angie Button

Related by Topic

View more Education legislation
Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2598

Q

What does Texas HB2598 do?

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.

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 (TEA).

Q

How significant are the changes in HB2598?

The regulatory priority for HB2598 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

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.

Q

What are the key dates for HB2598?

Key dates for HB2598: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026