BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 207
	By: Paxton; Johnson
	Education K-16
	6/2/2025
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Schools are required to excuse student absences for appointments with health care professionals; however, school districts have not consistently interpreted this statute as requiring excused absences for appointments with mental health professionals.

The proposed legislation simply clarifies that appointments with a mental health professional are excused absences.

S.B. 207 amends current law relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to attend mental health care appointments.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.087(b), Education Code, as follows:

(b) Requires a school district to excuse a student from attending school for certain purposes, including a temporary absence resulting from an appointment with 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.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2025�2026 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.