New Website Transparency Rules for Texas LPCs: What You Need to Know

As a Texas LPC, your focus is on helping your clients thrive. However, staying on top of the "business side" of a practice—especially new legislation—is just as important for keeping your doors open and your license protected.

A significant new law, House Bill 4224 (89th Regular Session), went into effect on September 1, 2025. This bill added Section 181.105 to the Texas Health and Safety Code, and it requires all "covered entities"—which includes LPCs in private practice—to be much more transparent about consumer rights.

What is the new requirement?

The law essentially mandates that you provide a "digital and physical roadmap" for your clients. You must prominently post detailed instructions on your website and at your physical facility (if you have one) explaining how a consumer can do three specific things:

1. Request their health care records directly from you.

2. Contact the Council (BHEC) for licensing or disciplinary questions.

3. File a consumer complaint with the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

While many of us already include this information deep within our initial intake paperwork, this law requires it to be "prominently" displayed—meaning it should be easy to find without a password or a 20-page document download.

How to Stay Compliant Online: A Quick Checklist

To ensure your practice meets the new standards, we recommend adding a dedicated "Consumer Notice" or "Your Rights" link to your website. Here is the information you need to include:

• Records Requests: Provide clear steps. Do they need to email a specific address? Use a secure portal? State clearly that they have a right to their records and outline your specific process for handling those requests.

• Contacting BHEC: You must link directly to the Council’s Contact Us webpage.

• OAG Complaints: You must provide a link to the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection webpage.

A Note on Seeking Clarification

If you have specific questions about how HB 4224 applies to your unique practice setup, the Council has requested that you do not use the old email address (HCR_PRU@hhs.texas.gov).

Instead, please submit all inquiries through the BHEC Contact Us portal. This ensures your question gets to the right department quickly so you can get an accurate answer.

Why This Matters

Transparency builds trust. While new regulations can feel like "just one more thing" on your plate, these disclosures protect both you and your clients by setting clear expectations for communication and record-keeping.

Taking ten minutes today to update your website can save you a major headache during your next compliance check!

...supervision matters!