The Texas House of Representatives consists of 86 Republicans and 64 Democrats. Representative Dade Phelan from Beaumont was re-elected as Speaker of the House, making this his second term.
The Texas Senate currently consists of 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The Senate President is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick who is serving his third term in this role.
In 2022, Greg Abbott was re-elected marking this as his third term serving as Governor of Texas.
Here at Sick of it, Texas! we'll be keeping a close eye on health care bills related to Medicaid expansion, Medicaid eligibility, maternal health , rural health, and reproductive health . If you're interested in other health-related issues, we're excited to recommend bill trackers from our partners in the sidebar.
On this page you can find our bill tracker, regular summaries of what's happening at the Capitol, and quick links to contact your representatives. To watch committee sessions, go here.
What We Are Keeping Our Eyes On 👀
Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
What does the bill mean?
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health & Human Services
Referred to Health & Human Services
Rep. Bucy, co-author: Rep. Ramos
Rep. Bernal
Sens. Johnson & Blanco
Sen. Zaffirini
These bills call for Medicaid expansion. They also require an annual report, including how many people gained eligibility, state expenses, uncompensated care costs ($ of hospitals providing care to uninsured patients who can't pay), and more. It requires voter approval and passage of a constitutional amendment.
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health & Human Services
Rep. Guerra
Rep. Martinez Fischer
Sens. Alvarado, Blanco, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez, Whitmire
These bills expand Medicaid eligibility guidelines to align with the Affordable Care Act. It would not require voter approval and does not have require annual report.
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health & Human Services
Rep. Bernal
These bills expand Medicaid eligibility guidelines to align with the Affordable Care Act. It would not require voter approval, but it does require annual report.
Referred to Health & Human Services
Co-author authorized
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Sen. Zaffirini
Sen. Johnson
Rep. Bucy
Rep. Bernal
Rep. Reynolds
These joint resolutions propose a constitutional amendment requiring the state to expand eligibility under the ACA. A constitutional amendment needs support from a simple majority of voters to pass.
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Referred to Health & Human Services
Referred to Health & Human Services
Rep. Bernal
Sen. Johnson
Sen. West
This would pave a way for counties to expand Medicaid eligibility, but only if they request it. The county commissioner would seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. That's a fancy way of saying they can receive the funds directly from the federal government to pay for Medicaid expansion in their county.
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Rep. Meza
This would expand eligibility for low income people with bipolar, dysthymia, schizophrenia, severe chronic depression (income is below 133% of the federal poverty level). This would only stay in effect if federal dollars available through the Affordable Care Act remain available.
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Rep. Zweiner
This is a limited expansion of Medicaid that pulls down federal dollars to make Medicaid available to low-income people under the age of 26.
Live Well Texas Bills Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
Summary
Referred to Health Care Reform
Rep. Johnson
The Live Well Texas bill follows Indiana's model of expanding Medicaid eligibility rules. It does still pull down federal dollars available for Medicaid expansion, and it adds a 'gateway to work' program component that connects participants with job training, job search, and other workforce-related resources.
Referred to Health & Human Services
Sen. Johnson
This is the Senate version of the Live Well Texas bill
Referred to Health Care Reform, Select
Rep. Allison
This is similar to the above Live Well Texas bills, however, it also disenrolls anyone from Medicaid who does not work or participate in a job training program for at least 20 hrs/week. This program would make it difficult for Texans like Anthony Cook to get covered.
Maternal Health Bills Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
Summary
Passed the House
Reps. Rose, Senfronia Thompson, Walle, Thierry, Howard
This would allow low-income Texans to stay on Medicaid for 6 months if they had an involuntary miscarriage or for 12 months health coverage if they give birth, not just 2 months or 6 months. This is one of the top recommendations by the Governor's task force to reduce maternal deaths and has been named one of Speaker Phelan's priorities.
Signed by the governor 🎉
Rep. Thierry & Oliverson
This would add 4 more experts to the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (emergency care, cardiology, anesthesiology, and oncology). Committee members appointed would be reviewed, and they would serve staggered 6 year terms (a third of committee members would have their terms expire on February 1st of every odd numbered year).
Committee report sent to Calendars
Rep. Thierry
This would establish a maternal mortality data registry for Texas, with voluntary and confidential reporting from the public to the health department. A working group composed of healthcare professionals, social workers, public health experts, representatives from hospital and medical associations will lead a working group to look at and analyze the data submitted to the registry. Data collected in the registry can include the cause of death for a pregnant or perinatal* person, non-identifying demographic data, and the most common causes for maternal or perinatal death.
*Perinatal is a term used to include the time period starting around 22 weeks of the pregnancy to a week after giving birth.
Passed out of the House, Referred to Health & Human Services
Rep. Thierry
This bill would create a pilot program to reimburse doulas for the services that they provide in a county with high Medicaid maternal health demands. Doulas are one of the most effective ways to ensure Texans, especially Black women, get the care they need throughout their pregnancies and postpartum, but they aren't covered by Medicaid or most health plans.
Referred to Public Health
Rep. Thierry
This bill would increase representation of community advocates from 1 person to 2 people on the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and about ⅓ of the committee’s membership will expire on February 1 of every odd numbered year.
As an example if the bill passes, then on February 1st of 2025, ⅓ of the people on the committee would have expired terms.
Medicaid Eligibility Process Bills Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
Summary
Referred to Human Services
Rep. Meza
This increases the minimum hourly wage to $15 per hour for personal attendants that are employed through Medicaid or other programs administered by Texas. After 2024, the minimum wage would increase to $17 per hour or the minimum federal minimum wage (whichever is higher). The current minimum wage is $8.11 and leaves many attendants unable to care for themselves.
Referred to Human Services
Rep. Richard Raymond
This would give all Medicaid providers one system to use to input and look up patient information, making it easier to serve patients with Medicaid.
Referred to Human Services
Rep. Lina Ortega
This bill would require a report on Medicaid reimbursement rates, supplemental payment amounts, and access to care. Low reimbursement rates are the reason so many doctors refuse to accept Medicaid.
It also requires the Health and Human Services Commission to look at how many doctors and other healthcare providers are participating in the Medicaid program & highlight counties where access to Medicaid providers is hard. The bill also specifies reporting on reimbursement for Medicaid providers of mental health and substance abuse disorders as compared to other providers.
(SB 550) Co-author authorized
(HB 1599) Passed the House & Received in the Senate
Sen. Nathan Johnson
Reps. Bucy, Harless, Oliverson, Jetton
This bill creates an 'express lane' to determine eligibility and get eligible kids into Medicaid & CHIP. It allows HHSC to use already-verified information – e.g. income, household size, and citizenship – from other state programs (like Head Start, free/reduced lunch programs, SNAP, and more) to move eligible kids into these health programs. By using information that has already been verified, HB 1599 makes the steps to get and stay enrolled more simple. If passed, this bill will help kids who are on other state programs but eligible for Medicaid or CHIP to get enrolled and stay enrolled.
Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
Sen. Jose Menendez
This would create a public outreach program to educate and inform mixed-status families about Medicaid and CHIP, who face a lot of fear and confusion using benefits they are eligible for. It outlines several requirements for the campaign to make it accessible such as providing information in both English and Spanish.
Referred to Health & Human Services
Sen. Perry
This would develop a strategic plan for home and community-based services under Medicaid and CHIP to make sure that people already enrolled in these two programs have adequate access to home and community-based services from an appropriate agency.
This bill would also create an advisory committee to address things like payment of service providers, care coordination, and prior authorization of services.
Sent to the Governor
Sens. Kolkhurst, Campbell, Hall, Schwertner, Sparks
This bill is about preventing fraud under certain healthcare programs funded partially or entirely by the state of Texas.
Referred to Health & Human Services
Sen. Hinojosa
This bill is about the proof required to impose payment holds in cases of alleged fraud by Medicaid providers to prevent providers from receiving payment when they shouldn't be and to prevent the providers' actions from causing any potential harm to the patient.
Reproductive Health Bills Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
Summary
Referred to State Affairs
Rep. Talarico
This house joint resolution would propose a constitutional amendment to limit the legislature's ability to pass laws prohibiting access to abortion care.
Rural Health Bills Bill Status
(SB 251) Referred to Health & Human Services
(HB 617) Signed by the governor 🎉
Who Filed?
Sen. Carol Alvarado
Rep. Drew Darby
Summary
These bills would allow the Texas Tech Uni HSC area pilot program to continue to provide emergency telemedicine medical services & telehealth services to rural communities in Texas. It would extend the pilot project's funding for another 6 years.
Child and Young Adult Health Bills Bill Status
Bill #
Who Filed?
Summary
Referred to Human Services
This bill would expand SNAP benefits to eligible college students and post-secondary education students. They wold also have access to benefits during school breaks.
(SB 113) Co-author authorized
(HB 98) Referred to Senate Education Committee
This bill would allow school districts to work with local mental health authorities, making it easier to provide this care to students. Schools can also be reimbursed through Medicaid for providing mental health services.
This Week at the Lege 🗓
The regular session has ended, and while Medicaid Expansion didn't get a hearing, many other bills that support rural and maternal health gained support and/or got signed!!
- The Texas Tech emergency medicine project was passed and signed! (HB 617)
- Medicaid for postpartum care was extended to 12 months! (HB 12)
- Medicaid express eligibility passed the House! Hopefully next year, we can get it to pass both House & Senate. (HB 1599)
{day}
Days Without Medicaid Expansion
Who's Who 👤
Senate Committees
Chair: Lois Kolkhorst from District 18
Vice-Chair: Charles Perry from District 28
Chair: Joan Huffman from District 17
Vice-Chair: Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa from District 20
Chair: Charles Schwertner from District 5
Vice-Chair: Phil King from District 10
House Committees
Chair: Sam Harless from District 126
Vice Chair: Donna Howard from District 48
Chair: James B. Frank from District 69
Vice Chair: Toni Rose from District 110
Chair: Tom Oliverson from District 130
Vice Chair: Ann Johnson from District 134
Chair: Stephanie Klick from District 91
Vice Chair: Liz Campos from District 119
Chair: Morgan Myer from District 108
Vice Chair: Shawn Thierry from District 146