Monitoring the SessionHB 5251
Died in committee
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
relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Adds “including mental health professionals” to the existing health care excuse.
The bill adds the words "including mental health professionals" to the existing rule that schools must excuse students for health care appointments. It touches public school students, their children, and school districts that track attendance. On the ground, a student who sees a counselor or therapist and returns to school the same day must get an excused absence, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1157 by Rep. Lozano (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
89R-HB5251 · 2025-03-14
relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Adds “including mental health professionals” to the existing health care excuse.
The bill adds the words "including mental health professionals" to the existing rule that schools must excuse students for health care appointments. It touches public school students, their children, and school districts that track attendance. On the ground, a student who sees a counselor or therapist and returns to school the same day must get an excused absence, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 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.
$525,040.28
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 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.
Report IDs: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.
$50,000.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.
$45,000.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 24, 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: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$525,040.28
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 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.
Report IDs: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.
$50,000.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.
$45,000.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 24, 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: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Lozano, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 18, 2023: Left pending in committee
Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
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 · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
SB 207 by Paxton (identical)
Education--Primary & Secondary--Admission & Attendance
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
The text as introduced · 352 words
89R2507 ANG-F By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 5251 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 25.087(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending school for: (1) the following purposes, including travel for those purposes: (A) observing religious holy days; (B) attending a required court appearance; (C) appearing at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student's application for United States citizenship; (D) taking part in a United States naturalization oath ceremony; (E) serving as an election clerk; or (F) if the student is in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, participating, as determined and documented by the department, in an activity: (i) ordered by a court under Chapter 262 or 263, Family Code, provided that it is not practicable to schedule the participation outside of school hours; or (ii) required under a service plan under Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code; (2) a temporary absence resulting from an appointment with health care professionals , including mental health professionals, for the student or the student's child if the student commences classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment; or (3) an absence resulting from a serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's parent or guardian provides a certification from a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state specifying the student's illness and the anticipated period of the student's absence relating to the illness or related treatment. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
