TCA & Public Policy

             

Advocacy In Motion

The Texas Counseling Association is the voice for Texas professional counselors with the Texas Legislature, regulatory boards, and Congressional delegation.  Every aspect of professional counseling is impacted by public policy decisions. TCA's goal is to influence the laws, rules and policies to positively impact and increase access to professional counselors across Texas.

Legislative Ambassador Program

The Texas Counseling Association has launched the Legislative Ambassador Program to strengthen local advocacy across every Texas House and Senate district. Legislative Ambassadors help advance TCA’s public policy goals by building relationships with their state legislators and educating them on issues important to the counseling profession.

Ambassadors will receive training in March and are asked to connect with their legislators every few months to share insights and advocate for the profession.

Interested in getting involved? 

Become a TCA Legislative Ambassador.

Public Policy Priorities

TCA's Public Policy is adopted by the TCA Board prior to each legislative session. The Texas Legislature meets biennially in odd-numbered years, starting in January. Advocacy efforts begin in the interim (even-numbered years). In addition to TCA staff, TCA contracts with an external lobbyist to promote our public policy priorities. Our policy priorities reflect the unique concerns which impact the counseling profession:

  • Protecting high professional standards
  • Increasing access to professional counselors   
  • Improving mental health and safety in school settings    
  • Advocating for those facing adversity

2025 Public Policies Brochure

2025 TCA Legislative Wrap Up

By the end of the regular session, TCA was actively monitoring a wide range of legislation impacting the counseling profession. A significant number of bills made it onto our final list of key wins, concerning developments, and notable defeats. Explore the highlights and lowlights in this year.

Legislative Wrap Up

2025 Supplemental Bill Report and Analysis

Advocacy Resources

TCA members should use the one-pagers to deliver key message points to legislators:

Understanding the Role of Professional Counselors

Regulatory Engagement

TCA maintains strong and dynamic engagement with the boards and agencies that regulate professional counselors by attending their meetings and providing opportunities to exhibit and present programs at TCA Conferences. Proposed rules are carefully vetted by TCA and our volunteer board liaisons. TCA's volunteer liaisons to the following agencies ensure that TCA is always at the table, engaged in conversation, and sharing with members action updates on the rules and regulations that will impact your work.

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEPC) - Angela Bulls

Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) - Lori Hollingsworth

State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) - Elizabeth Rogers

Texas Suicide Prevention Council (TxSPC) - Milton Smith

Past Accomplishments

  • Ensured that public schools excuse student absences for attending mental health appointments (SB 207, 89th Legislature)
  • Updated existing codes to include the term Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (SB 2587, 89th Legislature)
  • Increased funding and lowered barriers for counselors to access the Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program (HB 1, SB 532, 88th Legislature)
  • Reauthorized the behavioral health licensing boards and created the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) to house them in a stand-alone agency (HB 1501, 86th Legislature)
  • Included School Counselors in the mandatory educator compensation increases enacted by the 86th Legislature (HB 3)
  • Amended the Texas Education Code to require school counseling programs be based on the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (HB 18, 86th Legislature)
  • Expanded continuing education requirements for teachers, counselors and principals to include programs on the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (HB 18, 86th Legislature)
  • Updated and enhanced School Counselor Certification Standards in Texas (2017)
  • Published in partnership with the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, 5th Edition (2018)
  • Modified the Texas Education Code to correctly and consistently refer to school counselors (83rd Legislature)

TCA and Partners Issue Joint Statement Opposing AG Opinion on SB 14

The Texas Counseling Association, in coalition with the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Texas Society for Clinical Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers - Texas Chapter, has issued a joint statement opposing the recent opinion from Ken Paxton regarding SB 14 (88R).The statement clarifies that the opinion does not create new criminal prohibitions for licensed behavioral health professionals practicing within their scope but may create uncertainty for providers across Texas. Our organizations reaffirm our commitment to ethical care and stand with transgender and gender-diverse Texans, recognizing and respecting the identities and lived experiences of all clients.

Read the full joint statement here.

TCA Statement on SB12

Read the statement

TCA goes above and beyond.

State and Federal Advocacy

TCA works diligently to ensure that all professional counseling issues are a priority for legislators in Texas and Washington DC.

TCA speaks on-behalf-of and alongside our members as the governmental bodies that regulate the counseling profession consider legislation and policy changes that impact your work.

TCA hosts three Legislative Advocacy Days at the State Capitol during each Texas Legislative Session and also sends a coalition of TCA leaders to Capitol Hill each July.

Additionally, TCA contracts the services of lobbyists to more effectively draft legislation and influence public policy decisions.

TCA also offers a variety of brochures to help educate individuals, lawmakers, and the public.

    Liaisons for State Licensure Boards

    TCA appoints a number of volunteers to serve as liaisons to state licensure boards in Texas, including the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, the State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the State Board for Educator Certification, and the Texas Education Agency.

    TCA works in conjunction with our liaisons to ensure that proposed rule changes and agency announcements are vetted by the association and that input from TCA membership is solicited and submitted when appropriate.

    Check out our Advocacy Hub

    Stay up to date on the latest legislative news and action alerts. Plus quick links to all our advocacy resources.


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