Became P.L.2025, c.225, on January 12, 2026.
2024–2025 Session
Assembly Bill 1657
Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors.*
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the General Assembly
Sponsor from Jan 9
Chief co-sponsor from Jan 9
Chief co-sponsor from Sep 23
14 co-sponsors
Anthony S. Verrelli, Sterley S. Stanley, Benjie E. Wimberly, Yvonne Lopez, Michele Matsikoudis, William B. Sampson IV, Rosaura Bagolie, Roy Freiman, Mitchelle Drulis, Gabriel Rodriguez, Margie Donlon M.D., Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq., Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Carol A. Murphy, Victoria A. Flynn (withdrew Sep 26)
In the Senate
Sponsor from Dec 18, 2025
Chief co-sponsor from Dec 18, 2025
3 co-sponsors
Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Shirley K. Turner, Britnee N. Timberlake
Its course
January 9, 2024 to January 12, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Votes
Yeas to nays, as the Legislature recorded them. Committee votes are set in.
General Assembly, third reading56–12
Passed · Dec 19 · 4 present
Education3–2
Do pass as amended · Nov 10, 2025
Senate, third reading21–14
Passed · Dec 18, 2025
General Assembly, third reading58–12
Passed · Dec 22, 2025 · 1 present
Amendments
Each amendment offered, and what became of it.
General Assembly committee amendmentAdopted
Adopted Sep 19
Senate committee amendmentAdopted
Adopted Nov 10, 2025
Text
Each version as the Legislature printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.
In the General Assembly Jan 9 – Dec 19
- Jan 9Introduced in the General Assembly and sent to Education
- Sep 19Education recommended it as amended
- Read a second time
- Dec 19Passed the General Assembly, 56 to 12
In the Senate Jan 14, 2025 – Dec 18, 2025
- Jan 14, 2025Arrived in the Senate
- Sent to Education
- Nov 10, 2025Education recommended it as amended
- Read a second time
- Dec 18, 2025Passed the Senate, 21 to 14
Back in the General Assembly Dec 18, 2025 – Dec 22, 2025
- Dec 18, 2025Returned to the General Assembly to agree to the Senate's changes
- Dec 22, 2025Passed the General Assembly, 58 to 12, and so both houses
To the Governor Jan 12, 2026
- Jan 12, 2026Signed by the Governor
- Became P.L.2025, c.225