Relating to the Licensed Professional Counselors Compact; authorizing fees.

SB 498 creates a new "Licensed Professional Counselors Compact" in Texas law to allow counselors licensed in Texas to practice across state lines without needing separate licenses in each state. It directly affects licensed professional counselors seeking to serve clients in multiple states, as well as clients who access counseling services across state borders. The key mechanism is mutual recognition of licenses among participating states, which eliminates the need for counselors to obtain duplicate licenses in each state they serve. This aims to improve public access to counseling services, support military spouses relocating with active-duty personnel, and facilitate telehealth practice while maintaining state regulatory authority over counselor conduct.