All Roll Calls
Yes: 1,020 • No: 467
TexasHB 689th Legislature Regular SessionHouse
Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.
Sponsored By: Brad Buckley, Cody Harris, Lacey Hull, Jeff Leach, Will Metcalf, Charles Perry (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Civil Remedies & LiabilitiesCrimes--JuvenileCriminal Procedure--Sentencing & PunishmentDisabilities, Persons withEducation--Primary & Secondary--Charter SchoolsEducation--Primary & Secondary--DisciplineEducation--Primary & Secondary--GeneralEducation--Primary & Secondary--Other School PersonnelEducation--Primary & Secondary--SpecialEducation--Primary & Secondary--TeachersEducation--Primary & Secondary--Virtual EducationEducation--School DistrictsMental Health & Substance AbuseMinors--Health & SafetyMinors--Juvenile JusticeTobacco ProductsWeaponsALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMSPARENTAL CONSENTPARENTAL NOTIFICATIONRECORDS MANAGEMENTTELEMEDICINECHILD MENTAL HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM, TEXASEDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OFEDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 3 costs, 4 mixed.
Students gain voluntary school mental health access
Districts can offer students voluntary telehealth mental health care when the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium makes services available. Referrals for students under 18 require parent consent; mental health education and screening require signed written parent consent. The program must obtain legally required written consent before services, and schools need written consent before sharing records. For records, consent comes from the student, or a parent or guardian when the student is under 18. The program must give participating districts referral-provider lists and vetting details and post both online quarterly. Districts must update required consent forms as soon as practicable, no later than December 1, 2025.
More conduct requires alternative school placement
Students must enter a disciplinary alternative education program for specified offenses against school employees or volunteers, including retaliation and harassment. Mandatory grounds also cover specified marijuana or THC conduct and selling, giving, or delivering an e-cigarette to someone else. Certain off-campus offenses also require placement, including listed weapons offenses and deadly conduct. Those off-campus cases require specified court proceedings, a delinquency finding, or the superintendent’s reasonable belief, as the law provides. E-cigarette possession or use alone is a separate, discretionary placement ground.
Students face nicotine and disruption penalties
School codes must allow alternative-program placement for a first offense involving possession or use of a nicotine delivery product or e-cigarette. Placement is allowed, not required. For a first e-cigarette offense, students not placed in that program must receive at least 10 school days of in-school suspension. Schools can also use alternative placement for specified disruptive activities. The listed class-disruption ground requires intentional and repeated conduct.
Expelled students get revised learning options
Specified mandatory-expulsion and terroristic-threat cases require juvenile justice alternative education placement, except when students enter a post-adjudication treatment facility. One previously cited expulsion ground is removed from that placement rule. Districts can offer virtual expulsion classes when the juvenile program rejects or returns a student early, or no program or contract exists. Districts must supply needed computers and internet, review placement at least every 45 school days, and verify daily attendance for state funding. Virtual teachers need training and cannot be required to teach the same course online and in person during the same period.
New classroom removal and return rules
Teachers can remove students for disruption, abusive behavior, or bullying, including one incident subject to the law’s exceptions. Schools must notify parents and hold a conference within three class days; students can appeal the removal. Return generally requires the teacher’s written consent or a return plan prepared by a school employee whose main duties exclude classroom teaching. For specified alternative-placement or expulsion cases, return without consent also requires a committee finding that alternative placement is the best or only option. Teachers must have a chance to join a conference, cannot be pressured into consent, and must consent for specified offenses against them.
Student suspensions get limits and reviews
Out-of-school suspension under this rule cannot exceed three school days, but in-school suspension has no time limit. Administrators must review in-school suspension at least every 10 school days and document decisions to continue it. Reviews must consider learning progress and whether continued suspension is appropriate. Schools must provide comparable education and behavior support during in-school suspension. Students in special education must keep receiving their education-plan services and have a chance to progress in the general curriculum.
Students face revised expulsion grounds
Mandatory expulsion grounds expand to listed weapons offenses, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, assault against school workers or volunteers, and specified firearm conduct. These grounds can apply on or off campus, subject to the law’s exceptions. Some offenses leave a separate expulsion list, while deadly conduct is added. The law also provides for expulsion for firearm possession within 300 feet of school property. A principal or designee can order emergency placement or expulsion based on one incident under the emergency-discipline rule.
Family agreements can shorten disciplinary placements
Districts can adopt a parent-involvement policy for students in disciplinary alternative programs or expelled from school. Participating districts must notify parents of their right to request a behavior agreement and describe the policy in their school code. Agreements must state a specific placement reduction, but granting it remains an administrator’s choice and depends on family compliance. Administrators can change or revoke reductions for noncompliance; a shorter term does not guarantee a different placement. The state education commissioner must provide a model agreement.
School employees gain discipline reporting protections
District professional employees are protected from district or state educator-certification discipline for reporting violations of state student-discipline law. Reports must go to another district professional employee, the Texas Education Agency, or law enforcement. Employees are also protected for good-faith action to remove a student from class. The specified disciplinary-proceeding rule covers conduct before, on, or after the law’s effective date, but does not reopen finally resolved cases.
Special education families gain training and review
Supplemental special education services now include crisis prevention and intervention training for parents or people acting as parents. Schools must also hold a special education committee meeting before certain discipline changes a student’s educational placement. That review covers conduct prohibited by the school code’s bullying, harassment, or hit-list rules.
Suspension protections for young and homeless students
Students below grade three and students meeting the federal homeless definition face out-of-school suspension only for listed conduct. Exceptions cover weapons, immediate safety threats, documented repeated or significant classroom disruption, and specified drug or alcohol conduct. The conduct must occur at school or during a school-sponsored or school-related activity, on or off campus. For a child below grade three, parents unable to provide daytime supervision can request in-school suspension with written supporting proof. Approval is discretionary and limited to extenuating circumstances; school coordinators can also work with homeless education liaisons to find alternatives.
Districts keep discipline rules and funding protections
Districts of innovation cannot use local plans to avoid state student-discipline rules. The Texas Education Agency cannot withhold funding or penalize districts based on counts of removals, suspensions, alternative placements, or expulsions. Federal enforcement concerning significant racial or ethnic disproportionality among students with disabilities remains allowed. The law applies beginning with the 2025–26 school year.
Schools strengthen threat reviews and reporting
Every campus must have an assigned threat-assessment team that includes its behavior coordinator. Assessments involving special education students must include someone who understands disabilities and how they appear. Coordinators must monitor discipline referrals and report listed threats, weapons conduct, and behavior suggesting serious violence risks to the school safety team. Other staff can help only when the coordinator personally checks that the rules are properly carried out.
Charter schools can deny some students
Open-enrollment charter schools can exclude students for conduct covered by the alternative-placement or expulsion rules. They can also exclude students based on a criminal conviction or juvenile court adjudication. A campus with child care can exclude a student whose conviction bars admission to a similar district campus.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Brad Buckley
House
Cody Harris
House
Lacey Hull
House
Jeff Leach
House
Will Metcalf
House
Charles Perry
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Daniel Alders
House
Trent Ashby
House
Jeff Barry
House
Cecil Bell Jr.
House
Keith Bell
House
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Greg Bonnen
House
Benjamin Bumgarner
House
Angie Chen Button
House
Briscoe Cain
House
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
Giovanni Capriglione
House
David Cook
House
Charles Cunningham
House
Pat Curry
House
Mano DeAyala
House
Jay Dean
House
Mark Dorazio
House
Paul Dyson
House
Caroline Fairly
House
James Frank
House
Gary Gates
House
Stan Gerdes
House
Charlie Geren
House
Ryan Guillen
House
Bob Hall
Republican • Senate
Hancock
Affiliation unavailable
Sam Harless
House
Caroline Harris Davila
House
Cole Hefner
House
Hillary Hickland
House
Janis Holt
House
Andy Hopper
House
Todd Hunter
House
Carrie Isaac
House
Stan Kitzman
House
Lois Kolkhorst
Republican • Senate
Marc LaHood
House
Stan Lambert
House
Brooks Landgraf
House
Terri Leo Wilson
House
Janie Lopez
House
Ray Lopez
House
AJ Louderback
House
John Lujan
House
Shelley Luther
House
John McQueeney
House
Morgan Meyer
House
Mayes Middleton
Republican • Senate
Brent Money
House
Matt Morgan
House
Candy Noble
House
Angelia Orr
House
Jared Patterson
House
Dennis Paul
House
Angela Paxton
Republican • Senate
Dade Phelan
House
Katrina Pierson
House
Keresa Richardson
House
Schatzline
Affiliation unavailable
Mike Schofield
House
Alan Schoolcraft
House
Charles Schwertner
Republican • Senate
Matt Shaheen
House
Joanne Shofner
House
Shelby Slawson
House
John T. Smithee
House
Kevin Sparks
Republican • Senate
David Spiller
House
Valoree Swanson
House
Carl H. Tepper
House
Tony Tinderholt
House
Steve Toth
House
Ellen Troxclair
House
Cody Vasut
House
Trey Wharton
House
Terry M. Wilson
House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/28/2025
Record vote
Yes: 114 • No: 19
Senate vote • 5/22/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/22/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/22/2025
Record vote
Yes: 24 • No: 7
Senate vote • 5/22/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 4/16/2025
Record vote
Yes: 142 • No: 2
House vote • 4/16/2025
Record vote
Yes: 124 • No: 20
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 49 • No: 94
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 60 • No: 87
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 57 • No: 90
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 55 • No: 91
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 108 • No: 34
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 121 • No: 21
House vote • 4/15/2025
Record vote
Yes: 143 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Education K-16
Yes: 10 • No: 1
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Public Education
Yes: 13 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective immediately
6/20/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/2/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
6/1/2025SenateSigned in the House
6/1/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/31/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
5/28/2025SenateText of Senate Amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/28/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3996)
5/28/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseSenate Amendments Analysis distributed
5/23/2025HouseSenate Amendments distributed
5/23/2025HouseSenate passage as amended reported
5/23/2025HouseRemarks ordered printed
5/22/2025SenateRecord vote
5/22/2025SenatePassed
5/22/2025SenateRead 3rd time
5/22/2025SenateRecord vote
5/22/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
5/22/2025SenateRecord vote
5/22/2025SenatePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/22/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
5/22/2025SenateAmended
5/22/2025SenateAmendment(s) offered (FA10 Perry)
5/22/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
Related Bills
SB 2111, Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent defendant.
SB 1838, Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.
SB 3, Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and permits; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.
SB 2878, Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, mandatory expunction for certain persons, record retention, and youth diversion; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.
SB 646, Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.
HB 4325, Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.