Texas legislation · 89th Legislature 2nd Special Session
Texas HB281: Relating to disaster behavioral health coordination and response.
Status: Introduced, August 21, 2025
What the bill says
An act relating to disaster behavioral health coordination and response.
From the introduced text, August 21, 2025:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to disaster behavioral health coordination and response. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: [ADDED: SUBCHAPTER Z. ][ADDED: ][ADDED: DISASTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION] [ADDED: Sec.][ADDED: ][ADDED: 531.901.][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: DISASTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION. (a) ] [ADDED: The Health and Human Services Commission shall designate existing ] [ADDED: staff to coordinate statewide disaster behavioral health ] [ADDED: preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.] [ADDED: (b) The designated coordination staff shall:] [ADDED: (1)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: coordinate with the Texas Division of Emergency ] [] [ADDED: (2)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: manage federal crisis counseling assistance and ] [] [ADDED: (3)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: maintain a registry of qualified disaster ] [ and] [ADDED: (4)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: provide technical assistance to local mental ] [ADDED: health authorities for disaster preparedness.] [ADDED: Sec.][ADDED: ][ADDED: 531.902.][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: DISASTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPLOYMENT. (a) ] [ADDED: The commission shall coordinate with local mental health ] [ADDED: authorities to deploy behavioral health services to ] [ADDED: disaster-affected areas.] [ADDED: (b) Deployment coordination shall be activated:] [ADDED: (1)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: within 72 hours of a gubernatorial disaster ] [] [ADDED: (2)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: upon request from local emergency management ] [ or] [ADDED: (3)][ADDED: …
Sponsors
- Penny Morales Shaw (D, HD-148) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Filed
Subjects: State Finances--Management & Control, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TEXAS DIVISION OF (VP6FW), COUNSELING & THERAPY, Health--General, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Common questions
- What is HB281?
- HB281 is a bill in the Texas Legislature (89th Legislature 2nd Special Session): Relating to disaster behavioral health coordination and response.
- What does HB281 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to disaster behavioral health coordination and response.
- What is the status of HB281?
- Introduced as of August 21, 2025. Latest action: Filed (August 21, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB281?
- Penny Morales Shaw (D, HD-148).
- Where is the official record for HB281?
- On the Texas Legislature website: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=892&Bill=HB00281
Source: official Texas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.