Legislative Corner: Bill Round Up

As the 86th Texas Legislative Session continues, we are keeping a close eye on several bills that speak directly to our policy priorities. Here is a look at some of the bills we’re tracking and their status.

Legislative priority three focuses on ensuring women have access to the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives of their choice.

HB 937 – Relating to health benefit plan coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs.

• TWHC action: Testified in support on March 19.
• Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.

HB 800 – Relating to covered benefits under the child health plan.

• TWHC action: Testified in support on March 6.
• Legislative Status: Committee report sent to Calendars.

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.
• Legislative Status: Considered in Calendars.

SB 189 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in the Healthy Texas Women program.

• TWHC action: Monitoring.
• Legislative Status: Referred to Health & Human Services Committee.

HB 1879 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women and CHIP perinatal programs.

• TWHC action: Monitoring.
• Legislative Status: Referred to Public Health Committee.

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
• Legislative Status: Reported favorably without amendment(s).

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.
• Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.

SB 2132 – (Identical companion to HB 1641) Relating to the provision of information to certain women enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program.

• TWCH action: Testified in support on March 27.
• Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.

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.
• Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.

HB 1110 – Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.

• TWHC action: Monitoring.
• Legislative Status: Referred to Human Services.

While some of the above bills have yet to be scheduled for a hearing, we will continue to monitor their statuses and are ready to be of assistance to legislative offices. We are hopeful these bills will become laws that will benefit Texas women.

Originally published for the Texas Women's Healthcare Coalition.