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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required reintegration therapy coursework and training |
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for certain mental health professionals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Reintegration |
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Therapy Training Act of 2025. |
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SECTION 2. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) mental health professionals require comprehensive |
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training to effectively address the complexities associated with |
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identity confusion and gender dysphoria; |
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(2) reintegration therapy is essential for assisting |
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individuals, particularly minors, who experience difficulties |
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after attempting to transition socially or medically from their |
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sex; and |
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(3) there is a need for specialized training in |
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reintegration therapy to better support individuals experiencing |
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alienation from self and familial conflicts due to identity issues |
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and gender dysphoria. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.306 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.306. REINTEGRATION THERAPY COURSEWORK. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(3) "Mental health professional" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.601. |
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(4) "Reintegration therapy" means therapeutic |
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practices designed to assist an individual who has undergone or |
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considered social or medical transition from the individual's sex, |
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focusing on alleviating distress over the individual's sex and |
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fostering reconciliation with the reality of biological sex. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education that offers a |
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mental health professional degree program shall require students |
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enrolled in the program to complete a course of instruction on |
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reintegration therapy. The coordinating board, in consultation |
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with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, by rule shall |
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prescribe the curriculum and other requirements for the course. |
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The curriculum must cover: |
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(1) alienation from self and resulting psychological |
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impacts; |
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(2) familial attention and strategies for |
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reconciliation; |
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(3) gender stereotypes and that stereotypes do not |
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determine an individual's sex; |
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(4) the binary reality of sex; |
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(5) coping strategies for individuals who feel a loss |
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of self due to attempts at social or medical transitioning; and |
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(6) other topics as determined by the coordinating |
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board related to the psychological, social, and medical |
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implications of social or medical transitioning, including but not |
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limited to the negative consequences of surgical intervention, |
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puberty blockers or other hormones, binding, and tucking. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 507, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 507.260 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 507.260. REINTEGRATION THERAPY TRAINING. (a) A |
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license holder shall biennially complete three hours of continuing |
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education in reintegration therapy, as defined by Section 51.306, |
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Education Code. |
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(b) The executive council may not renew the license of a |
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license holder who does not complete the training required by this |
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section. |
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(c) A license holder may complete the training required by |
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this section: |
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(1) as part of any continuing education required by |
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the executive council under Section 507.157; and |
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(2) in more than one training session. |
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SECTION 5. Section 51.306, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with students initially enrolling in a |
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mental health professional degree program at a public institution |
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of higher education in the 2025-2026 academic year. |
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SECTION 6. Section 507.260, Occupations Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to the renewal of a license or registration |
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permit on or after January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |