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HB 5306

Relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment and the creation of a mental and behavioral health allotment under the Foundation School Program.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by James Talarico

Texas bill expands school safety funding uses and creates dedicated mental health allotment to support student behavioral health services within Foundation School Program.

Referred to Public Education
#education #commissionerof(v9954) #education--primary&secondary--finance(i0250) #education--schooldistricts(i0220) #mentalhealth&substanceabuse(i0019) #minors--health&safety(i0533)
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Bill Summary · HB 5306

Legislative bill overview

HB 5306 proposes to expand how Texas schools can use safety funding and creates a new dedicated funding stream specifically for mental and behavioral health services. The bill modifies the Foundation School Program's school safety allotment to broaden permissible uses and establishes a separate mental and behavioral health allotment to ensure resources are directed toward student mental health support.

Why is this important

School safety funding historically focused on physical security measures, while mental health support has competed for general education dollars. This bill addresses growing concerns about student mental health crises and attempts to link mental wellness with overall school safety—recognizing that prevention through mental health services may reduce behavioral incidents and crises. The dedicated allotment could provide more predictable funding for counselors, psychologists, and intervention programs.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism unclear: The bill does not specify how the mental and behavioral health allotment will be funded—whether it's new money, a reallocation from existing safety funds, or general education budgets, which affects overall school finance equity
  • Scope of "permissible uses": Expanding school safety allotment uses could dilute focus on physical security infrastructure if mental health spending redirects that money, raising questions about which needs take priority
  • Implementation capacity: Rural and under-resourced districts may lack qualified mental health professionals to deploy new funding effectively, potentially creating disparities in service availability across the state

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

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