WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1704

Relating to a parent's right to be notified by a school district concerning acts of self-harm by the parent's child.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Nate Schatzline

Texas bill requires schools to notify parents when students engage in self-harm, centralizing parental rights over student privacy and clinical judgment in mental health disclosures.

Referred to Public Education
#education--primary&secondary--otherschoolpersonnel(i0246) #education--primary&secondary--teachers(i0242) #family--parent&child(i0355) #minors--health&safety(i0533) #parentalnotification(s0319) #parentalrights(s0095)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1704

Legislative bill overview

HB 1704 would require Texas school districts to notify parents when their child engages in acts of self-harm. The bill establishes parental notification as a mandatory policy, giving parents explicit rights to be informed about incidents involving their children's self-injurious behavior.

Why is this important

This directly affects how schools handle sensitive mental health situations involving minors. The requirement creates potential tensions between parental rights, student privacy, child mental health outcomes, and school liability—issues where stakeholders have significantly different perspectives on what serves children's best interests.

Potential points of contention

  • Student privacy vs. parental rights: Self-harm disclosure could expose vulnerable students to family dynamics that may worsen their mental health; conversely, parents argue they need information to provide necessary care and treatment
  • Mandatory vs. discretionary reporting: The bill's requirement for blanket notification may conflict with clinical best practices that recommend individualized assessment of when/how to involve parents, particularly for older teens
  • Implementation burden and liability: Schools must determine what constitutes reportable "acts of self-harm," creating ambiguity about minor incidents, accidental injuries, and legal responsibility if outcomes differ based on notification choices

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

Sign in to ask a question.