HB 1365
AN ACT relating to unprofessional conduct by mental health providers who
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Prohibits mental health providers from attempting to change a child's sexual orientation or gender identity through conversion therapy. It applies to licensed professionals like counselors, therapists, psychologists, and physicians, making it unprofessional conduct to try to alter a child's sexual orientation or gender expression. Mental health providers who violate this law could face disciplinary action from state regulatory entities, with the law taking effect on September 1, 2025.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to unprofessional conduct by mental health providers who attempt to change the sexual orientation of a child. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 105, Occupations Code, is CHAPTER 105. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY CERTAIN PROVIDERS [HEALTH SECTION 2. Chapter 105, Occupations Code, is amended by designating Sections 105.001 and 105.002 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER A. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SECTION 3. Section 105.001, Occupations Code, is amended to Sec. 105.001. DEFINITION. In this subchapter [chapter], "health care provider" means a person who furnishes services under a license, certificate, registration, or other authority issued by this state or another state to diagnose, prevent, alleviate, or cure a human illness or injury. SECTION 4. Chapter 105, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter B to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER B. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER Sec. 105.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Child" means an individual younger than 18 years (2) "Gender identity or expression" means an individual's having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly associated with the individual's assigned sex at (3) "Mental health provider" means: (A) a behavior analyst licensed under Chapter (B) a chemical dependency counselor licensed (C) a licensed professional counselor licensed (D) a marriage and family therapist licensed (E) a nurse licensed under Chapter 301; (F) a physician licensed under Subtitle B; (G) a psychologist licensed under Chapter 501; (H) a sex offender treatment provider licensed (I) a social worker licensed under Chapter 505; (J) a special officer for offenders with mental impairments certified under Section 1701.404; or (K) another individual licensed by this state to provide professional therapy or counseling services. (4) "Sexual orientation" means the actual or perceived status of an individual with respect to the individual's sexuality. Sec. 105.052. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. (a) A mental health provider engages in unprofessional conduct if, in the course of providing services to a child, the mental health provider attempts (1) change the child's sexual orientation, including by attempting to change the child's behavior or gender identity or (2) eliminate or reduce the child's sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to counseling that: (1) provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a child or facilitates a child's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, if that counseling does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; (2) provides support to a child undergoing gender transition in accordance with established standards of care. (c) A mental health provider who commits unprofessional conduct under Subsection (a) is subject to disciplinary action by any state regulatory entity with the power to take disciplinary action against that mental health provider. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to unprofessional conduct by mental health providers who
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