This has legs.

This is a scary proposal in Texas



Upon further review, this apparently occurred in 2023:

Texas State Representative James Talarico questioned the bill author (Representative Cole Hefner) regarding Senate Bill 763, which allowed public schools to use chaplains, and referenced Rocky Malloy (CEO of the National School Chaplain Association) on May 8-10, 2023, during the Texas House floor debate.


Texas Senate Bill 763 passed the legislature, was signed into law, and took effect on September 1, 2023. It required every public school district board in Texas to take a record vote by March 1, 2024, on whether to hire or accept volunteer chaplains to provide student support and mental health services.

Implementation and Requirements
Passed Law: Texas Senate Bill 763 made it legal for public schools and charter schools to use safety funds or general budgets to employ or accept volunteer chaplains.

Mandatory School Board Votes: School boards were required to formally vote in an open meeting by March 1, 2024, to either adopt or reject a chaplain policy.

No Certification Needed: Chaplains taking these roles do not need standard educator or counselor certification from the State Board for Educator Certification.

Background Check Safeguard: Appointed chaplains must pass a criminal background check and cannot be registered sex offenders.

Controversies and Aftermath

Criticism: Civil rights groups and educational organizations argued the law blurs the line between church and state, risking religious coercion for vulnerable students.

Local Decisions: Most school districts across Texas that voted on the measure ultimately chose to reject hiring or utilizing unlicensed chaplains, opting instead to rely on licensed counselors.