Texas 89th Legislature
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
10 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 24 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
10 bills require immediate attention
Relating to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary school facilities and other emergencies.
Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis under and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; requiring registration.
Relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, notice of certain reprimands, judicial compensation and related retirement benefits, and the reporting of certain judicial transparency information; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to hiring and employment requirements for persons in direct contact with children at certain facilities.
Relating to the licensing of mental hospitals and mental health facilities and the definition of facility for the purposes of the employee misconduct registry.
Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
All Bills (34)
Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.
Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.
Relating to authorizing Medicaid managed care organizations to offer nutrition support services in lieu of other state Medicaid plan services.
Relating to authorizing Medicaid managed care organizations to offer nutrition support services in lieu of other state Medicaid plan services.
Relating to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary school facilities and other emergencies.
Relating to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary school facilities and other emergencies.
Relating to information and data regarding the incidence of veteran deaths in this state.
Relating to information and data regarding the incidence of veteran deaths in this state.
Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis under and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; requiring registration.
Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis under and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; requiring registration.
Relating to the construction, expansion, and operation of certain inpatient mental health facilities and the designation of residential treatment facilities for certain juveniles.
Relating to the construction, expansion, and operation of certain inpatient mental health facilities and the designation of residential treatment facilities for certain juveniles.
Relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission.
Relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission.
Relating to the certificate of medical examination for chemical dependency and the duration of court-ordered treatment for a person with a chemical dependency.
Relating to the certificate of medical examination for chemical dependency and the duration of court-ordered treatment for a person with a chemical dependency.
Relating to certain state hospital names and the management of state hospitals.
Relating to certain state hospital names and the management of state hospitals.
Relating to the insurable interest of certain persons providing care to individuals with disabilities in the life of those individuals.
Relating to the insurable interest of certain persons providing care to individuals with disabilities in the life of those individuals.
Relating to neglect of a child and the grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship and possession of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to neglect of a child and the grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship and possession of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.
Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.
Relating to a study on mental health services provided to veterans through the Texas Veterans Commission.
Relating to a study on mental health services provided to veterans through the Texas Veterans Commission.
Relating to notice provided by a chemical dependency treatment facility to the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a minor refused admission to the facility.
Relating to notice provided by a chemical dependency treatment facility to the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a minor refused admission to the facility.
Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
Relating to hiring and employment requirements for persons in direct contact with children at certain facilities.
Relating to hiring and employment requirements for persons in direct contact with children at certain facilities.
Relating to the licensing of mental hospitals and mental health facilities and the definition of facility for the purposes of the employee misconduct registry.
Relating to the licensing of mental hospitals and mental health facilities and the definition of facility for the purposes of the employee misconduct registry.
Relating to the continuation of the maternal opioid misuse model of care for certain Medicaid recipients.
Relating to the continuation of the maternal opioid misuse model of care for certain Medicaid recipients.
Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.
Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.
Relating to the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Relating to the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness.
Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness.
Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, notice of certain reprimands, judicial compensation and related retirement benefits, and the reporting of certain judicial transparency information; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, notice of certain reprimands, judicial compensation and related retirement benefits, and the reporting of certain judicial transparency information; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the provision of inservice training on identifying abuse, neglect, and illegal, unprofessional, and unethical conduct in certain health care facilities and to civil and administrative penalties assessed for violations of statutes or rules governing chemical dependency treatment facilities.
Relating to the provision of inservice training on identifying abuse, neglect, and illegal, unprofessional, and unethical conduct in certain health care facilities and to civil and administrative penalties assessed for violations of statutes or rules governing chemical dependency treatment facilities.
Relating to inpatient competency restoration services.
Relating to inpatient competency restoration services.
Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.
Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.
Relating to the administration of a grant program to support community mental health programs assisting veterans and their families.
Relating to the administration of a grant program to support community mental health programs assisting veterans and their families.
Relating to group home consultant referrals; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to group home consultant referrals; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to emergency detention of certain persons evidencing mental illness and to court-ordered inpatient and extended mental health services.
Relating to emergency detention of certain persons evidencing mental illness and to court-ordered inpatient and extended mental health services.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental health authority.
Relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental health authority.
Relating to the establishment of a work group to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing an acute psychiatric bed registry.
Relating to the establishment of a work group to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing an acute psychiatric bed registry.
Relating to the establishment of a consortium to conduct United States Food and Drug Administration's drug development clinical trials with ibogaine to secure the administration's approval of the medication's use for treatment of opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions for which ibogaine demonstrates efficacy and to the administration of that treatment.
Relating to the establishment of a consortium to conduct United States Food and Drug Administration's drug development clinical trials with ibogaine to secure the administration's approval of the medication's use for treatment of opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions for which ibogaine demonstrates efficacy and to the administration of that treatment.
Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.
Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on mental health & substance abuse passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 34 laws related to mental health & substance abuse. These bills were authored by 25 different legislators and address various aspects of mental health & substance abuse policy in Texas.
- Did mental health & substance abuse bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 19 House bills and 15 Senate bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most mental health & substance abuse bills?
- The leading authors of mental health & substance abuse legislation include Sen. Joan Huffman (R) with 3 bills, Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D) with 3 bills, Rep. Toni Rose (D) with 3 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on mental health & substance abuse issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for mental health & substance abuse legislation?
- Among the 34 mental health & substance abuse bills enacted, 8 have critical compliance urgency and 17 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to mental health & substance abuse in Texas law?
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse legislation frequently overlaps with Health & Human Services Commission, Education, State Finances. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for mental health & substance abuse legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 24 of the 34 mental health & substance abuse bills (71%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on mental health & substance abuse policy.
- When do Texas mental health & substance abuse laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some mental health & substance abuse bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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