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HB 1826

Relating to depression screenings for certain women in county jail or in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Rafael Anchía and 5 co-sponsors

Requires depression screenings for incarcerated women in Texas jails and state prison, enabling early mental health intervention during intake processing.

Left pending in committee
#criminaljustice #texasdepartmentof(v8788) #corrections--jails&prisons(i0092) #jailstandards #commissionon(v9946) #mentalhealth&substanceabuse(i0019) #pregnancy&childbirth(s0294) #women(i0925)
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Bill Summary · HB 1826

Legislative bill overview

HB 1826 requires depression screenings for women incarcerated in Texas county jails or under the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill mandates systematic mental health assessments as part of intake or processing procedures to identify depressive disorders early in the incarceration process.

Why is this important

Depression among incarcerated women occurs at significantly higher rates than the general population and often goes undiagnosed, leading to worse health outcomes, higher suicide risks, and reduced rehabilitation prospects. Early screening enables timely intervention and treatment, potentially reducing self-harm incidents, improving mental health outcomes, and lowering long-term incarceration costs through better reentry preparation.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Screening requirements demand funding for trained personnel, assessment tools, and follow-up mental health services, which county jails and state facilities may struggle to absorb
  • Care capacity: Identifying depression through screening is only effective if adequate mental health treatment resources exist; understaffed facilities may lack psychiatrists or counselors to address positive screenings
  • Scope limitations: The bill specifically targets women but does not address similar mental health needs among incarcerated men, raising equity concerns about differential treatment based on gender

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

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