Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo proposing mental health leave policy for all county employees

June 11, 2026 - 03:49

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is pushing for a new policy that would provide mental health leave for all county employees. The proposal comes roughly two years after Hidalgo herself took a two-month leave of absence from her role as the county's top elected official. During that time in 2023, she traveled to an inpatient care facility outside of Texas to receive treatment for clinical depression.

The proposed policy would allow county workers to take paid time off specifically for mental health reasons, without having to use their standard sick leave or vacation days. Hidalgo has framed the initiative as a necessary step toward reducing the stigma around mental health in the workplace. She argues that public servants, including those in law enforcement, emergency response, and administrative roles, face high levels of stress that can lead to burnout and more serious conditions.

Under the plan, employees would be eligible for a set number of days each year to address their mental well-being. The policy would also require managers to undergo training on how to recognize signs of mental distress in their teams. County commissioners are expected to review the proposal in the coming weeks. If approved, Harris County would join a small but growing number of local governments across the country that formally recognize mental health leave as a separate category of paid time off.