SB 531

bill giving psychologists a shortcut to the school psychology license

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 a psychologist as a licensed specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Pass the exam, pay a fee. Skip the 1,200 supervised hours.

The bill creates a shortcut for people already licensed as psychologists in Texas to also get the license of a specialist in school psychology. They only need to pass the required exam, apply, and pay a fee, instead of meeting the usual coursework and 1,200 supervised-hour rules. The state behavioral health council must write the rules and fee by January 1, 2026, and it may require continuing education on special education and school-based services for people who use this path.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 4156 by Rep. Allen (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4156 by Rep. Allen (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.FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the licensing of a psychologist as a licensed specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 5, 2024 and referred to the Senate Health & Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB531 · 2024-12-05

SOLD BY

Sen. Kevin SparksRSenate 31

ITEM

relating to the licensing of a psychologist as a licensed specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee.

WHAT IT DOES

Pass the exam, pay a fee. Skip the 1,200 supervised hours.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Dec 5, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Dec 5, 2024Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services

ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

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

THE TEXT

“pays the fee set by the executive council”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new license fee for the psychologist pathway. The caption openly says "authorizing a fee," so this is a disclosed, routine fee rather than a hidden one.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Kevin Sparks

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KKyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000Tim Dunn$25,000

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 25, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Kyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000.00

Tim Dunn$25,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4156

by Rep. Allen, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 16, 2023: Referred to Health & Human Services

Relating to the licensing of a psychologist as a licensed specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Dec 5, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to Health & Human Services

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 2157 by Allen (identical)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

PSYCHOLOGISTS

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 383 words

89R1971 BEE-F

By: Sparks
S.B. No. 531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing of a psychologist as a licensed

specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee.

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

SECTION 1. Section 501.260, Occupations Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (d) to

read as follows:

(b) The executive council shall set the standards to qualify

for a license under this section. Except as provided by Subsection

(b-1), [ The ] standards must include:

(1) satisfaction of minimum recognized graduate

degree requirements;

(2) completion of graduate course work at a regionally

accredited institution of higher education in:

(A) psychological foundations;

(B) educational foundations;

(C) interventions;

(D) assessments; and

(E) professional issues and ethics;

(3) completion of at least 1,200 hours of supervised

experience;

(4) receipt of a passing score on a nationally

recognized qualifying examination determined to be appropriate by

the executive council and on any other examination required by the

executive council; and

(5) satisfaction of the requirements under Sections

501.2525(a)(3)-(9).

(b-1) The executive council by rule shall provide for the

issuance of a license under this section to a person who:

(1) is licensed as a psychologist under this chapter;

(2) has received a passing score on a nationally

recognized qualifying examination determined to be appropriate by

the executive council and on any other examination required by the

executive council;

(3) applies for the license in the manner prescribed

by the executive council; and

(4) pays the fee set by the executive council.

(d) The executive council by rule may establish continuing

education requirements for a psychologist who holds a license

issued under this section in accordance with Subsection (b-1),

including continuing education coursework in an amount and

frequency established by the executive council that is related to:

(1) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.);

(2) Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.

Section 794);

(3) special education evaluations; and

(4) school-based psychological services.

SECTION 2. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

shall adopt rules and fees necessary to implement Sections

501.260(b-1) and (d), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not

later than January 1, 2026.

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