The bill requires every local mental health authority governing body to include a veteran picked by a majority of the board's members. It touches the boards of local mental health authorities across Texas and the veterans who would sit on them. Boards must select their veteran member by December 1, 2025, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the Senate concurred in the House amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author César Blanco (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Gary VanDeaver (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.
relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental
health authority.
WHAT IT DOES
A majority of the board picks the veteran.
The bill requires every local mental health authority governing body to include a veteran picked by a majority of the board's members. It touches the boards of local mental health authorities across Texas and the veterans who would sit on them. Boards must select their veteran member by December 1, 2025, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 1580 (Blanco) Relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental health authority. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 1580 (Blanco) Relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental health authority. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
SB 1580 (Blanco) Relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental health authority. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Witnesses11
For
8
Against
0
On
3
Names
For
El Paso County1 registration
Emergence Health Network1 registration
Endeavors2 registrations
NAMI Texas2 registrations
Self1 registration
Self; Harris County Sheriff’s Office1 registration
On
Health and Human Services Commission1 registration
HHSC1 registration
Texas Council of Community Centers1 registration
Sources
11 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Subjects
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Military & Veterans
Text
The text as introduced · 183 words
89R12759 RAL-D
By: Blanco
S.B. No. 1580
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the governing body of a local mental
health authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 533.0351(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) If a local mental health authority has a governing body,
the governing body must include:
(1) for a local authority that serves only one county,
the sheriff of the county as an ex officio nonvoting member; [ and ]
(2) for a local authority that serves two or more
counties, two sheriffs chosen in accordance with Subsection (b) as
ex officio nonvoting members ; and
(3) a veteran selected by a majority of the governing
body members .
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the members of
each local mental health authority governing body shall select a
veteran to serve on the governing body as provided by Section
533.0351(a), Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 