HB 4261

social workers get an alternative to the standard exam

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the licensing of certain social workers; imposing a fee.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Baccalaureate and master licenses, via the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

The bill orders the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council to create a way, other than the standard exam, to test the competency of people seeking a baccalaureate or master social worker license. It applies to applicants who have failed the licensing exam two or more times, and it requires the council to set a fee for the alternative test and to form a work group of people with social work backgrounds to advise it. Rules are due by January 1, 2026, so repeat exam-takers will get a new route to a license, paid for by a new fee.

Labels

Labels: FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the licensing of certain social workers; imposing a fee.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the House Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4261 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139

ITEM

relating to the licensing of certain social workers; imposing a fee.

WHAT IT DOES

Baccalaureate and master licenses, via the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 10, 2025Filed
Apr 1, 2025Read first time
Apr 1, 2025Referred to Human Services

ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEES · analysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

“The executive council shall establish a work group to”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new advisory work group and requires a new fee for the alternative test. Both are honestly flagged by the caption's 'imposing a fee' and are minor next to the real rule-making duty.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Charlene Ward Johnson

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$33K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$33K Legacy 44$25K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 5, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Sands PAC$33,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash: $33,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100981582, 101039497.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$32,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash: $32,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

Legacy 44$25,343.19

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash: $4,500.00
Paid by others: $20,843.19
Total: $25,343.19

Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash: $33,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100981582, 101039497.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash: $32,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash: $4,500.00
Paid by others: $20,843.19
Total: $25,343.19

Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 10, 2025

04/01/2025 H Referred to Human Services: Apr 1 2025 12:28PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Human Services · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

SOCIAL WORK & SOCIAL WORKERS

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 217 words

89R11072 RAL-F

By: Ward Johnson
H.B. No. 4261

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing of certain social workers; imposing a

fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 505, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 505.355 to read as follows:

Sec. 505.355. ALTERNATIVES TO EXAMINATION. (a) The

executive council by rule shall establish alternative methods,

other than an examination, of examining the competency of an

applicant for a baccalaureate or master social worker license who

has failed the applicable examination two or more times. The rules

adopted under this subsection must set a fee for the administration

of the alternative method of examining competency. In adopting the

rules, the executive council shall consider the recommendations of

the work group established under Subsection (b).

(b) The executive council shall establish a work group to

solicit input from stakeholders and make recommendations on the

development and implementation of alternative methods under

Subsection (a). The work group must consist of persons with a

background in social work.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas

Behavioral Health Executive Council shall adopt the rules required

by Section 505.355, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.