SB 646 – Expands mental health loan subsidies

SB 646 substantially expands Texas’ Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program, what is essentially a taxpayer-funded student debt forgiveness program, adding new categories of workers and sharply increasing the maximum repayment amounts. By enlarging the pool of eligible recipients and offering new financial bonuses, the bill guarantees that program costs will balloon far beyond their original scope. It also allows up to $1 million in taxpayer funds to be spent on marketing the program, further compounding government expenses. Expanding eligibility to school counselors and lower-level associates, rather than narrowly targeting severe shortages, dilutes the program’s focus and invites waste. While mental health access is important, this bill moves Texas further away from fiscal restraint, and should be opposed.