Rep. Rafael Anchia introduced HB 4557, a bill on Occupational Regulation and State Agencies, Boards & Commissions, to the Texas House on Wednesday, March 12 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the regulation of art therapy, including the establishment of the Texas Art Therapy Board and the duties of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a fee’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill establishes the Texas Art Therapy Board and regulates art therapy practice by requiring occupational licenses for therapists. The bill outlines the composition and eligibility of board members, sets fees, and defines rules including confidentiality, supervision requirements, license renewal, and continuing education. It permits licensed professional art therapists to practice independently while requiring consultations with medical professionals as needed. Violations of the act or rule may result in disciplinary actions or a Class B misdemeanor charge for unlicensed practice. The bill also specifies a waiver for art therapists practicing before its enactment, allowing them to be licensed without meeting certain requirements by March 1, 2027. The effective date is September 1, 2025, except for certain sections which take effect September 1, 2026.
Rafael Anchia, the chair of the House Committee on S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband, proposed another 37 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation and a member of the House Committee on State Affairs.
Anchia graduated from Tulane Law School with a JD.
Rafael Anchia is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 103rd House district. He replaced previous state representative Steven D. Wolens in 2005.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | HB 4560 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property |
| 89(R) | HB 4558 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the filing or recording of documents or instruments conveying or purporting to convey an interest in real or personal property |
| 89(R) | HB 4197 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to a requirement that public schools issue student identification cards to high school students |
| 89(R) | HB 4091 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the interconnection of the ERCOT power grid to grids outside the ERCOT power region |
| 89(R) | HB 4017 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 4016 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the use of electric resistance as a primary heat source in certain residential buildings |
| 89(R) | HB 3704 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to notaries public; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 3541 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to certain criminal offenses concerning the unlawful transfer or purchase of certain weapons; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3511 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the participation of electric vehicles in the ERCOT market |
| 89(R) | HB 3509 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3280 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to participation in a deferred retirement option plan by members of the retirement systems for police and fire fighters in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3208 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the installation by the Texas Department of Transportation of highway signs for certain cultural attractions |
| 89(R) | HB 3177 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the office of inspector general in certain municipalities and the investigators of those offices |
| 89(R) | HB 3097 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of their general elections |
| 89(R) | HB 3065 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the disposition of a firearm surrendered through a firearm buyback program administered by certain local law enforcement agencies |
| 89(R) | HB 2937 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the areas of operation of housing finance corporations |
| 89(R) | HB 2896 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to insurance coverage for the disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue remains |
| 89(R) | HB 2891 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violating certain statutes under the jurisdiction of, rules or orders adopted by, or licenses, permits, or certificates issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas; increasing criminal penalties |
| 89(R) | HB 2854 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the required approval of certain hospital visits as a condition of release on parole or to mandatory supervision for certain releasees and to the hospital’s liability for damages resulting from those visits |
| 89(R) | HB 2837 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to state, local, and court involvement in determining whether victims and witnesses to an offense and certain detained, arrested, or incarcerated persons are lawfully present in the United States |
| 89(R) | HB 2836 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the minimum wage |
| 89(R) | HB 2835 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the basic allotment and guaranteed yield under the Foundation School Program, including an adjustment in those amounts to reflect inflation |
| 89(R) | HB 2769 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the transfer of certain semiautomatic rifles to certain recipients; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 2727 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the creation of certain criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows |
| 89(R) | HB 2722 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the denial of certain applications for a permit or other authorization under the Texas Clean Air Act on the basis of certain adverse impacts |
| 89(R) | HB 2720 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the adoption of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote |
| 89(R) | HB 2719 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 2717 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to equalizing compensation for certain wrongfully imprisoned persons |
| 89(R) | HB 2714 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the issuance and acceptance of a high school student identification card and certain other forms of identification as identification for voting |
| 89(R) | HB 2700 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the definition of holster for purposes of certain criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 2698 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the representation of certain indigent applicants for a writ of habeas corpus |
| 89(R) | HB 2697 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture |
| 89(R) | HB 2695 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties |
| 89(R) | HB 2619 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to electronic voter registration |
| 89(R) | HB 2618 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities |
| 89(R) | HB 2617 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the procedures for the expunction of arrest records and files for persons who complete certain court programs or pretrial intervention programs |
| 89(R) | HB 1795 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain conduct constituting the offense of dog fighting or the offense of cockfighting |
| 88(R) | HB 4784 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power region |
| 88(R) | HB 4785 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the denial of certain applications for a permit or other authorization under the Texas Clean Air Act on the basis of adverse environmental justice impacts |
| 88(R) | HB 4786 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violating certain statutes under the jurisdiction of, rules or orders adopted by, or licenses, permits, or certificates issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas; increasing criminal penalties |
| 88(R) | HB 4787 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the acceptance of political contributions by a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas and of political contributions made in connection with the office of railroad commissioner |
| 88(R) | HB 4788 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
| 88(R) | HB 4789 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the use of school buses and electricity by public schools |
| 88(R) | HB 4790 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the provision of natural gas by and rates charged by certain gas utilities |
| 88(R) | HB 4792 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to establishing the Texas Carbon Emissions Mitigation and Severe Weather Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of carbon emissions and severe weather in this state |
| 88(R) | HB 4793 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities |
| 88(R) | HB 4811 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council |
| 88(R) | HB 4984 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to reporting by operators of certain gas supply chain facilities and gas pipeline facilities on a failure to perform a contractual obligation due to a weather emergency |
| 88(R) | HB 5282 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Dallas Municipal Management District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments and fees |
| 88(R) | HB 4418 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the creation of a revolving loan program to fund the purchase by historically underutilized businesses of certain bonds required for public work contracts |
