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HB0740 • 2026

Public Schools - School-Based Mental Health Services - Full-Time Therapist

Public Schools - School-Based Mental Health Services - Full-Time Therapist

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Delegates Stinnett , Addison , Rosenberg , Simmons , and Terrasa
Last action
2026-02-04
Official status
In the House - Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Public Schools - School-Based Mental Health Services - Full-Time Therapist

Requiring each public school to employ a full-time therapist that provides school-based mental health services to students during the instructional day; and requiring the full-time therapist to be licensed and certified by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring each public school to employ a full-time therapist that provides school-based mental health services to students during the instructional day; and requiring the full-time therapist to be licensed and certified by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 House

    Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)

  2. 2026-02-03 House

    First Reading Ways and Means and Health

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Public Schools - School-Based Mental Health Services - Full-Time Therapist

Official Summary Text

Requiring each public school to employ a full-time therapist that provides school-based mental health services to students during the instructional day; and requiring the full-time therapist to be licensed and certified by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0740*

HOUSE BILL 740
F1 6lr2858

By: Delegates Stinnett, Addison, Rosenberg, Simmons, and Terrasa
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2026
Assigned to: Ways and Means and Health

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Public Schools – School–Based Mental Health Services – Full–Time Therapist 2

FOR the purpose of requiring each public school to employ a full –time therapist that 3
provides school–based mental health services to students during the instructional 4
day; requiring the full–time therapist to be licensed and certified by the State Board 5
of Professional Counselors and Therapists; and genera lly relating to mental health 6
services in public schools. 7

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–401 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14

Article – Education 15

7–401. 16

(a) With the assistance of the county health department, each county board shall 17
provide: 18

(1) Adequate school health services; 19

(2) Instruction in health education, including the importance of physical 20
activity in maintaining good health; and 21

(3) A healthful school environment. 22

2 HOUSE BILL 740

(b) The Department and the Maryland Department of Health jointly shall: 1

(1) Develop public standards and guidelines for school health programs; 2
and 3

(2) Offer assistance to the county boards and county health departments 4
in their implementation. 5

(c) (1) (i) Each county board shall designate a school health services 6
program coordinator. 7

(ii) A county board may authorize the county health department to 8
designate the school health services program coordinator. 9

(2) The school health services program coordinator shall: 10

(i) Implement State and local health policies in the public schools; 11

(ii) Ensure that p ublic schools adhere to local health services 12
guidelines; and 13

(iii) Communicate State and local health policies to the parents and 14
guardians of public school students. 15

(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the 16
county board shall grant the school health services program coordinator the authority to 17
carry out the provisions of this subsection. 18

(ii) The county board shall consult with a county superintendent 19
before any change in the hiring or termination of personnel in connection with a school 20
health services program. 21

(4) The Department shall conduct at least two meetings annually with all 22
school health services program coordinators in the State. 23

(D) (1) EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SH ALL EMPLOY A FULL –TIME THERAPIST 24
THAT PROVIDES SCHOOL–BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS DURING 25
THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. 26

(2) THE THERAPIST EMPLOYE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 27
SUBSECTION SHALL BE LICENSED AND CERT IFIED BY THE STATE BOARD OF 28
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS. 29

[(d)] (E) On or before December 1, 2015, and every 5 years thereafter, the 30
Department shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government 31
HOUSE BILL 740 3

Article, to the General Assembly a summary of the information reported to the State 1
Superintendent during the COMAR certification process. 2

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 3
1, 2026. 4