TX SB1401

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must establish the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program to create guided pathways for community college students to transfer to four-year institutions and pursue careers as psychologists, licensed professional counselors, psychiatric nurses, social workers, school psychologists, or marriage and family therapists

Participating institutions must partner with public junior colleges and guarantee that students completing approved curricula or "Texas Direct" associate degrees transfer without losing credits and can complete a bachelor's degree in less than two years after transfer

Students meeting minimum academic requirements receive automatic admission to postbaccalaureate degree or certificate programs at participating institutions, subject to program capacity based on student-to-faculty ratios and clinical placement availability

Coordinating Board must maintain a website displaying all pipeline programs, participating institutions, an interactive map, and program data; participating institutions must submit annual reports on enrollment, transfers, completions, capacity, funding, and average time to graduation

Act takes effect September 1, 2025; passed Senate 31-0 on April 16, 2025, and House 79-58 on May 23, 2025