- TWHC
The End of the 86th Legislative Session
By Perdita Henry
In our last Bill Round-up blog, we noted several bills progress. May 27 marked the end of the 86th Texas Legislative Session, and while there were a few wins for women’s health, there were several bills that would have helped women at various stages of their lives and overall were likely to improve the health of women across the state.
Here is a recap of those bills and where they ultimately came to rest by the end of the Session.
Legislative priority three focuses on ensuring women have access to the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives of their choice.
HB 937 – Related to health benefit plan coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 19.
Originating Committee Action: Voted favorably out of the House Insurance Committee.
Originating Chamber Action: Never heard on the House floor.
The bill never made it to the House floor and died.
HB 800 – Related to covered benefits under the child health plan.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 6.
Originating Committee Action: Voted favorably out of the House Public Health Committee.
Originating Chamber Action: Reported engrossed.
Final Action: Referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
The bill died with the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Legislative priority four looks to increase continuity of care for women by eliminating barriers to preventive healthcare access.
HB 60 – Relating to a requirement that public institutions of higher education provide certain information regarding certain women’s health programs to students.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 6.
Originating Committee Action: Voted favorably out of the House Higher Education Committee.
Originating Chamber Action: Considered in Calendars.
No additional actions were taken and the bill died.
SB 189 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Monitored.
Originating Committee Action: Referred to Health & Human Services Committee.
Final Action: None.
HB 1879 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women and CHIP perinatal programs.
TWHC action: Monitored.
Originating Committee Action: Voted favorably out of the House Public Health Committee.
Final Action: Committee report sent to Calendars.
HB 1589 – Relating to providing notification to certain pregnant women regarding their eligibility for coverage under Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Submitted card of support.
Originating Committee Action: Placed on General State Calendar
Originating Chamber Action: Reported engrossed.
Final Action: Referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 1641 – Relating to the provision of information to certain women enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 20.
Originating Committee Action: Referred to SB 2132.
SB 2132 – (Identical companion to HB 1641) Relating to the provision of information to certain women enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 27.
Originating Committee Action: Placed on Intent Calendar.
Originating Chamber Action: Reported engrossed.
Action in Another Chamber: Reported enrolled.
Final Action: Signed by Governor – effective immediately.
Legislative priority five seeks to maximize the ability of the women’s healthcare safety net to reach more women and save Texas taxpayer dollars.
HB 744 – Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 19.
Originating Committee Action: Placed on General State Calendar.
Originating Chamber Action: Reported engrossed.
Final Action: Received from the House.
HB 1110 – Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.
TWHC Action: Monitored.
Originating Committee Action: Voted favorably out of the House Human Services Committee.
Originating Chamber Action: Committee report sent to Calendars.