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HB 3624

Relating to excused absences from public school for a student's mental or behavioral health.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Mihaela Pleșa

Texas HB 3624 would allow public school students excused absences for mental/behavioral health needs, removing attendance penalties for students seeking mental health support.

Referred to Public Education
#education--primary&secondary--admission&attendance(i0227) #mentalhealth&substanceabuse(i0019) #minors--health&safety(i0533)
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Bill Summary · HB 3624

Legislative bill overview

HB 3624 would allow Texas public school students to receive excused absences for mental or behavioral health reasons, similar to existing excused absences for physical illness. The bill would require schools to recognize these absences without penalty to the student's attendance record, enabling students to seek mental health support without academic consequences.

Why is this important

Mental health challenges among adolescents have increased significantly, but students often avoid seeking help due to concerns about truancy penalties and academic impact. This bill addresses a practical barrier to mental health care access by decoupling it from attendance records, potentially improving early intervention and student wellbeing outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation clarity: Schools would need specific guidance on documentation requirements, eligibility criteria, and whether parental authorization is necessary, as these details are not specified in available bill information
  • Attendance threshold concerns: Opponents may worry the policy could enable excessive absences or be misused, requiring clear limits on the number of excused mental health absences per year
  • Resource capacity: Schools may face questions about whether they have adequate counseling staff and mental health services to support increased demand resulting from policy implementation
  • Definitional boundaries: "Mental or behavioral health" is broad and may require clearer definitions to prevent inconsistent application across different school districts

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

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