Toth Bill Ties Counselor Licenses To ‘Reintegration Therapy’ Training

The text as introduced · 558 words

By: Toth
H.B. No. 4311

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to required reintegration therapy coursework and training

for certain mental health professionals.

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

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Reintegration

Therapy Training Act of 2025.

SECTION 2. The legislature finds that:

(1) mental health professionals require comprehensive

training to effectively address the complexities associated with

identity confusion and gender dysphoria;

(2) reintegration therapy is essential for assisting

individuals, particularly minors, who experience difficulties

after attempting to transition socially or medically from their

sex; and

(3) there is a need for specialized training in

reintegration therapy to better support individuals experiencing

alienation from self and familial conflicts due to identity issues

and gender dysphoria.

SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.306 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.306. REINTEGRATION THERAPY COURSEWORK. (a) In

this section:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher

Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003.

(3) "Mental health professional" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.601.

(4) "Reintegration therapy" means therapeutic

practices designed to assist an individual who has undergone or

considered social or medical transition from the individual's sex,

focusing on alleviating distress over the individual's sex and

fostering reconciliation with the reality of biological sex.

(b) Each institution of higher education that offers a

mental health professional degree program shall require students

enrolled in the program to complete a course of instruction on

reintegration therapy. The coordinating board, in consultation

with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, by rule shall

prescribe the curriculum and other requirements for the course.

The curriculum must cover:

(1) alienation from self and resulting psychological

impacts;

(2) familial attention and strategies for

reconciliation;

(3) gender stereotypes and that stereotypes do not

determine an individual's sex;

(4) the binary reality of sex;

(5) coping strategies for individuals who feel a loss

of self due to attempts at social or medical transitioning; and

(6) other topics as determined by the coordinating

board related to the psychological, social, and medical

implications of social or medical transitioning, including but not

limited to the negative consequences of surgical intervention,

puberty blockers or other hormones, binding, and tucking.

SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 507, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 507.260 to read as follows:

Sec. 507.260. REINTEGRATION THERAPY TRAINING. (a) A

license holder shall biennially complete three hours of continuing

education in reintegration therapy, as defined by Section 51.306,

Education Code.

(b) The executive council may not renew the license of a

license holder who does not complete the training required by this

section.

(c) A license holder may complete the training required by

this section:

(1) as part of any continuing education required by

the executive council under Section 507.157; and

(2) in more than one training session.

SECTION 5. Section 51.306, Education Code, as added by this

Act, applies beginning with students initially enrolling in a

mental health professional degree program at a public institution

of higher education in the 2025-2026 academic year.

SECTION 6. Section 507.260, Occupations Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to the renewal of a license or registration

permit on or after January 1, 2027.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.