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Bill

HB 2480

Creating an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permitting an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Exempts social workers supervised by attorneys from mandatory abuse reporting and allows them to claim attorney-client privilege protections while working on legal matters.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2480

Legislative bill overview

HB 2480 creates an exemption from mandatory reporting requirements for licensed social workers when they work under attorney supervision, and allows attorneys to require these social workers to maintain attorney-client privilege protections. This effectively extends legal confidentiality protections to social workers operating within legal teams, similar to how attorneys' communications are protected.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a practical conflict for social workers employed by law firms or legal aid organizations, who currently face competing obligations: mandatory reporting laws (which require reporting of abuse, neglect, or harm) and attorney-client privilege (which protects legal communications). The change could expand access to legal services involving counseling or psychological assessment by allowing clients to speak freely with social workers as part of their legal team without fear of mandatory reporting.

Potential points of contention

  • Child safety concerns: Critics may argue that exempting social workers from mandatory reporting creates gaps in child abuse/neglect detection, particularly since social workers are trained to identify signs of harm that attorneys may not be
  • Scope definition: The bill's language around "supervision of an attorney" is broad and could be interpreted differently across cases—it's unclear what level/type of supervision qualifies or whether it applies in all settings
  • Professional ethics conflicts: Licensed social workers have their own ethical codes separate from legal ethics; requiring them to adopt attorney-client privilege may conflict with their professional licensing standards and training

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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