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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB6

Regular Session

Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB6: Government Affairs Overview

HB6 fundamentally restructures the disciplinary authority in Texas schools, stripping administrators of unilateral discretion to return removed students to classrooms and explicitly revoking "District of Innovation" (DOI) exemptions regarding student discipline. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must immediately overhaul Student Codes of Conduct, intake protocols, and mental health consent workflows to align with strict new "opt-in" requirements for the 2025-2026 school year.

Rep. Jeff Leach·House Bill·Regular Session

Critical
Medium Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Local School Boards and Charter Governing Bodies • Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium • Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Business Impact

Who HB6 Affects

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

Regulatory Priority: critical

Significant regulatory changes (effective 2025-06-20). Review with your legal and compliance teams to understand implications.

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Education

Affected business types:

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

Estimated Cost Impact

mediumModerate costs expected for implementation.

Enforcing Agencies

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HB6
Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.
Critical Urgency
Heavily Contested
House Vote124 - 20
YEA
86% in favor144 voting
Senate Vote29 - 2
YEA
94% in favor31 voting
22
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Medium
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Local School Boards and Charter ...Texas Child Mental Health Care C...TEA
Primary Author: Rep. Jeff Leach
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 (Law is currently in effect).
  • Compliance Deadline: Start of 2025-2026 School Year (Operational systems must be active).
  • TCHATT Deadline: December 1, 2025 (Absolute deadline for updating mental health telehealth consent forms).
  • Agency Rulemaking: The TEA Commissioner must adopt model "Behavioral Agreements" and "Return to Class Plans."
  • *Regulatory Gray Zone:* If TEA fails to release these models by August 1, districts must implement interim forms to comply with the statute, risking later revision.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. Revise Student Code of Conduct: Update immediately to reflect the mandatory ISS/DAEP distinction for vaping and the new "Return to Class" protocols.
  • 2. Purge DOI Exemptions: If you are a District of Innovation, formally amend your plan to acknowledge that Chapter 37 exemptions are no longer valid.
  • 3. Establish "Return to Class" Workflow: Create the internal routing process for when a teacher refuses a student's return. Ensure the Placement Review Committee is staffed and ready for a higher caseload.
  • 4. Audit TCHATT Forms: Destroy old consent forms. Implement the new "opt-in" specific consent forms for all telehealth mental health services by August.
  • 5. Distribute Law Summary: You are legally required to provide the TEA report summarizing these discipline law changes to every parent and student at the start of the school year.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • District of Innovation Plans: Immediate Action Required. Any DOI plan currently exempting the district from Texas Education Code Chapter 37 (Discipline) is statutorily void regarding those exemptions. You must amend your local innovation plan to remove these exemptions immediately.
  • Charter Management Agreements: Review contracts with Charter Management Organizations (CMOs). The Board cannot delegate ultimate responsibility for academic/financial performance; contracts must reflect non-delegable oversight.
  • Virtual Learning Vendors: Contracts for virtual instruction platforms used for expulsion purposes must be amended to ensure they support the new attendance tracking and teacher professional development requirements.

Hiring/Training

  • Principal Training: Campus administrators must be retrained immediately. They no longer possess the authority to unilaterally return a student to a teacher's class following a removal for unruly behavior without the teacher's consent or a Placement Review Committee order.
  • Designated Staff: You must designate a non-instructional employee to create "Return to Class Plans." Principals cannot force the removing teacher to draft this document.
  • Virtual Expulsion Staff: Teachers assigned to the new Virtual Expulsion Program must complete specific professional development regarding virtual instruction to remain eligible for funding.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Return to Class Plan: A new mandatory document required before a student returns to a removing teacher's room.
  • ISS Review Logs: Administrators must document a review of every student in In-School Suspension (ISS) every 10 school days.
  • TCHATT Consent: Shift from passive notification to affirmative written consent. You cannot share records with or refer students to the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium without this new specific form.
  • Vaping Intake: Intake forms must track "First" vs. "Subsequent" offenses. First offense allows ISS (min. 10 days) or DAEP; subsequent offense mandates DAEP.

Fees & Costs

  • Virtual Expulsion Funding: Foundation School Program (FSP) funding is now available for virtual expulsion, *provided* the district can confirm daily attendance. Failure to validate attendance methods will result in funding clawbacks.
  • Legal Defense: Expect increased legal costs regarding teacher employment disputes. The law grants teachers immunity from termination for good-faith disciplinary reporting, creating a new defense against adverse employment actions.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Confirmation" of Virtual Attendance: The statute requires confirmation of attendance for virtual expulsion funding but does not define the technical standard (e.g., login vs. active engagement).
  • *Guidance:* Until TEA rules are published, adopt the strictest standard (active engagement logs) to protect against future audits.
  • Model Forms Delay: The law relies on TEA-created model forms for "Behavioral Agreements."
  • *Guidance:* Do not wait for TEA. Have your legal counsel draft a compliant interim agreement by August 1 to ensure you can offer this statutory option to parents on Day 1 of the school year.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 20, 2025
Passed House
Apr 16, 2025
Passed Senate
May 22, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCriminal ProcedureCriminal Procedure--sentencing & PunishmentDisabilities, Persons WithEducationEducation--primary & SecondaryEducation--primary & Secondary--disciplineEducation--primary & Secondary--generalEducation--primary & Secondary--virtual EducationMinorsMinors--juvenile JusticeTobacco ProductsWeaponsAlternative Education ProgramsEducation, Commissioner ofCrimesCrimes--juvenileEducation--primary & Secondary--specialEducation--primary & Secondary--teachersEducation, State Board ofCivil Remedies & LiabilitiesEducation--primary & Secondary--charter SchoolsEducation--primary & Secondary--other School PersonnelEducation--school DistrictsMinors--health & SafetyParental ConsentParental NotificationTelemedicineMental Health & Substance AbuseRecords ManagementChild Mental Health Care Consortium, Texas
03

House Authors

Rep. Jeff LeachRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (68)

Senate Sponsors

Sen. Charles PerryRepublican · Primary Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)

Bill Text(with markup)

Showing first 50k characters.

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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More from Rep. Jeff Leach

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB6

Q

What does Texas HB6 do?

HB6 fundamentally restructures the disciplinary authority in Texas schools, stripping administrators of unilateral discretion to return removed students to classrooms and explicitly revoking "District of Innovation" (DOI) exemptions regarding student discipline. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must immediately overhaul Student Codes of Conduct, intake protocols, and mental health consent workflows to align with strict new "opt-in" requirements for the 2025-2026 school year.

Q

Who authored HB6?

HB6 was authored by Texas Representative Jeff Leach during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB6 signed into law?

HB6 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB6?

HB6 is enforced by Local School Boards and Charter Governing Bodies, Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium and Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Q

How significant are the changes in HB6?

The regulatory priority for HB6 is rated as "critical". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB6?

The cost impact of HB6 is estimated as "medium". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB6 address?

HB6 addresses topics including criminal procedure, criminal procedure--sentencing & punishment, disabilities, persons with, education and education--primary & secondary.

Q

What are the key dates for HB6?

Key dates for HB6: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Rulemaking: Adopt a model behavioral agreement for parental involvement in disciplinary placements (Sec. 37.0014). (Prior to 2025-2026 School Year (Implied)); Adopt a model 'return to class plan' for students removed by teachers (Sec. 37.002). (Prior to 2025-2026 School Year (Implied)). Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Q

What are the penalties under HB6?

HB6 establishes the following penalties: administrative penalty of Prohibition on Funding Withholding for The TEA is statutorily PROHIBITED from withholding funding or penalizing districts based solely on the aggregate number of student disciplinary removals/suspensions (Sec. 37.028).. Consult with legal counsel for specific applicability to your situation.

Q

Which Texas businesses are affected by HB6?

HB6 primarily affects healthcare providers and medical facilities. These businesses should review the legislation with their legal and compliance teams to understand potential impacts.

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