New Texas Law Will Allow Students To Take Mental Health Days Off School

We are still in the middle of Mental Health Awareness month and Texas Just Scored a Big Win for Student Mental Healthand I am here for it!!

Cue the confetti, because Texas students are about to get the mental health support they deserve! Senate Bill 207, championed by Senator Angela Paxton and State Representative Terri Leo Wilson, is officially headed to the Governor’s desk.

What does that mean exactly? According to my amazing investigative skills, that means that the bill has officially passed through both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, and now it’s in the final stretch.

At this point, the Governor can:

• Sign it into law

• Veto it

• Or do nothing, and if they don’t act within a certain number of days, it can automatically become law anyway.

A post was shared on NAMI Texas Facebbok page sharing the exciting news. Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, Texas school districts will have the green light to grant temporary excused absences for mental health appointments.

What does that mean? Just like a trip to the doctor or dentist, students will be able to prioritize their mental well-being without worrying about getting penalized for missing school.

Mental Health Awareness Matters:

This bill is a major step forward in acknowledging something we should’ve been shouting from the rooftops years ago: mental health is just as important as physical health.

Whether it’s seeing a therapist, attending a counseling session, or just taking the time to regroup, students can now get the support they need without the stigma or stress.

A huge shoutout to Senator Paxton and Rep. Leo Wilson for recognizing the urgency of this issue and putting students first. Your leadership is helping break down barriers and normalize the conversation around mental health in schools.

Let’s hope this is just the beginning of more policies that protect and uplift students across Texas. Mental health matters and it’s a great thing to see that Texas is making it official.

If you would like more information on El Paso’s NAMI chapter, Click Here.