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HB1593

Regular Session

Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-05-28
HB1593
Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.
Low Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote121 - 1
YEA
99% in favor122 voting
Senate Vote30 - 1
YEA
97% in favor31 voting
2
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-05-28
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Primary Author: Rep. Elizabeth Campos
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: May 28, 2025 (Immediate effect triggered by legislative supermajority).
  • Compliance Deadline: N/A for Department Operations. The only hard deadline applies to the Advisory Committee, which must submit its findings by September 1, 2026.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) must immediately adopt administrative rules to form the committee. Regulatory Gray Zone: Between now and 2027, peer support standards remain undefined; departments should expect TCFP to issue data requests (RFIs) to inform the committee's study.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Internal Programs: Inventory all existing peer support policies and training records immediately.
  • Segregate Data: Ensure mental health utilization data is aggregated and anonymized to protect employee privacy while preparing for state data calls.
  • Monitor TCFP: Assign a compliance liaison to track TCFP Advisory Committee agendas; submit public comments if proposed recommendations threaten your current operational model.
  • Update Legal Risk Profile: Until the 2027 legislation passes, continue to treat peer support communications as potentially discoverable in litigation.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Mental Health Vendors: Review current agreements with EAP providers or external clinicians. Insert "Change in Law" clauses allowing for contract renegotiation if TCFP adopts new certification standards for peer support oversight post-2026.
  • Training Providers: Do not lock into long-term (3+ year) exclusive contracts for specific peer support training curriculums, as the committee may recommend a standardized state curriculum that renders proprietary training non-compliant.

Hiring/Training

  • Current Status: No change to current certification requirements.
  • Future Preparation: The committee is explicitly tasked with studying "licensing requirements." Departments should maintain detailed logs of all current peer support team training hours and certifications to facilitate potential "grandfathering" requests if new licensure rules are adopted in 2027.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Internal Audit: Immediate action is required to centralize data on your department's peer support utilization.
  • Data Readiness: Although not yet mandatory, expect the committee to request aggregate data regarding program structure, volunteer counts, and suicide statistics. Ensure this data is anonymized and ready for submission to TCFP upon request.

Fees & Costs

  • Current Impact: None.
  • Future Impact: Budget forecasting for FY2027 should anticipate potential costs for state-mandated peer support certification courses and licensure fees.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The committee is charged with resolving two critical legal ambiguities. General Counsels must monitor the committee's minutes for direction on:

  • 1. Confidentiality Privilege: The law currently lacks clarity on whether peer support communications are privileged in civil/criminal discovery. The committee's recommendation will determine if your department's peer support records are discoverable in future litigation.
  • 2. Licensure Scope: It is unclear if the committee will recommend licensing the *individual* (requiring every peer supporter to hold a license) or the *program* (requiring department-level certification). This distinction significantly impacts administrative burden and liability.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Dec 12, 2024
Passed House
May 2, 2025
Passed Senate
May 15, 2025
Signed
May 28, 2025
TopicsFire Fighters & PoliceFire Fighters & Police--generalMental Health & Substance AbuseOccupational RegulationOccupational Regulation--other Trades & ProfessionsTexas A&m Engineering Extension ServiceFire Protection, Texas Commission OnInterim StudiesSuicide
03

House Authors

Rep. Elizabeth CamposDemocrat · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (5)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1593

Q

What does Texas HB1593 do?

HB1593 establishes a state-level advisory committee to standardize suicide prevention and peer support protocols within Texas fire departments, effective immediately. While this legislation imposes no immediate mandates on individual departments, it initiates the regulatory process to define future licensing requirements and confidentiality privileges for peer support programs, likely resulting in statutory mandates in 2027. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: May 28, 2025 (Immediate effect triggered by legislative supermajority).

Q

Who authored HB1593?

HB1593 was authored by Texas Representative Elizabeth Campos during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB1593 signed into law?

HB1593 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 28, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB1593?

HB1593 is enforced by Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

Q

How urgent is compliance with HB1593?

The compliance urgency for HB1593 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB1593?

The cost impact of HB1593 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB1593 address?

HB1593 addresses topics including fire fighters & police, fire fighters & police--general, mental health & substance abuse, occupational regulation and occupational regulation--other trades & professions.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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