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HB 2003

Education, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "School Mental Health Transparency Act"; requires the department to consult relevant agencies to compile a list of mental health resources; requires public schools to use the department's list to compile lists of mental health resources available to enrolled students and provide the lists to students' parents; requires that lists of mental health resources be published on the website of the department and each public school. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 33 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jason Powell

Tennessee schools must distribute state-compiled mental health resource lists to parents and publish them online to increase transparency and access to student mental health services.

Filed for introduction
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Bill Summary · HB 2003

Legislative bill overview

HB 2003 establishes the "School Mental Health Transparency Act," requiring Tennessee's Department of Education to compile a comprehensive list of mental health resources in consultation with relevant agencies. Public schools must then use this state list to create their own resource compilations and distribute them to parents, with both state and school-level lists published online for public access.

Why is this important

Mental health challenges among school-age children have increased significantly, and many families lack clear information about available support services. This bill aims to bridge that information gap by creating a centralized, transparent resource system that gives parents and students direct access to mental health support options, potentially improving early intervention and treatment access.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Schools may face administrative costs and staff time to compile, maintain, and distribute resource lists, raising questions about funding and resources for these requirements
  • Scope and comprehensiveness: Unclear whether the state list will include only public/nonprofit services or private providers, and how frequently it will be updated as resources change
  • Privacy and consent considerations: Distributing mental health resource information to all parents raises questions about student privacy and whether parental notification should be conditional on student age or circumstances

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

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