Status of Bills (5/17/25)
Below is a list of the MAHA-related bills that are moving. This means the bill has at a minimum been voted out of committee, or in some cases voted out of the entire House or Senate.
NUTRITION:
SB 314 (Hughes) / HB 1290 (Harris Davila): Prohibits Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools from including harmful additives and dyes in free or reduced-price meals provided to eligible students.
STATUS: PASSED Senate and House!
SB 25 (Kolkhorst) / HB 25 (Hull): Requires nutrition education for medical students and continuing education for doctors, food labeling for foods including harmful additives/dyes, and prohibits schools from taking away PE as punishment.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Passed House Committee and in Calendars (4/28)
SB 379 (Middleton): Prohibit candy, chips, soda, and energy drinks from being purchased with SNAP through requesting a waiver from the USDA.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Passed House Committee (but only as a soda ban - 5/1)
NOTE: Governor Greg Abbott has already requested this waiver without the legislation (learn more).
HB 26 (Hull): House Bill 26, as amended on April 22, 2025, permits Medicaid managed care organizations in Texas to offer nutrition counseling and instruction services as alternatives to certain state Medicaid plan services. These alternative services must be medically appropriate, cost-effective (and cost-neutral) and evidence-based, and are subject to approval by the state Medicaid managed care advisory committee.
STATUS: Passed House, Passed Senate Committee (5/7)
SB 1864 (Johnson) The bill allows producers to sell up to 120 dozen ungraded eggs per week directly to consumers or, under certain conditions, at wholesale. It requires that cartons of ungraded eggs be labeled legibly on the top panel with the word "ungraded," the producer's name and address, the producer's license number if sold at wholesale, and the packing date. Producers selling at wholesale must obtain a license as an ungraded dealer-wholesaler, maintain specific records, and adhere to sanitation requirements when handling eggs for wholesale.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Heard in Texas House Committee
SB 541 (Kolkhorst): Expansion of Cottage Food Production Operations Expands the definition of cottage food production operations to include certain nonprofit organizations and allows the sale of additional food items, including those requiring time and temperature control for safety. Increases the annual gross income cap from $50,000 to $100,000 and permits sales to consumers and cottage food vendors. Prohibits local authorities from requiring licenses or permits for these operations.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Passed House
HB 1275 (Gonzalez): Allows dairies to operate within large city limits (populations over 1.5 million) by removing a current restriction. This change supports urban farming and local food production while ensuring health and safety standards are maintained. It provides more access to fresh, locally produced milk in urban areas.
Status: Passed Texas House, Scheduled for a Senate Committee Hearing (5/19)
HB 2013 (Bell): This bill amends the Property Code to prevent property owners' associations from enforcing provisions that prohibit or restrict a property owner from keeping chickens on their property, provided that municipal ordinances allow for it.
STATUS: Passed Texas House, Referred to Senate Committee (5/5)
HB 5339 (Wilson) – Establishes the Higher Education Regenerative Agriculture Grant Program to fund research and education on sustainable farming practices and pesticide harm reduction at Texas public colleges and universities, prioritizing institutions with limited ties to pesticide companies and strong community partnerships.
STATUS: Passed House (5/8), Referred to Senate Committee
MEDICAL FREEDOM:
SB 883 (Paxton): This bill, known as the Right to Treat Act, prohibits state officials from restricting physicians in Texas from prescribing FDA-approved drugs for off-label use in treating COVID-19. It also protects physicians from disciplinary actions by the Texas Medical Board solely for such prescriptions, provided they meet the medical standard of care.
STATUS: Passed the Senate, Referred to House Committee (4/22)
SB 984 (Bettencourt): seeks to expand access to individualized investigational treatments for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses. The bill defines "individualized investigational treatment" as a drug, biological product, or device uniquely produced for a patient based on their genetic profile, including gene therapy antisense oligonucleotides and neoantigen vaccines. It establishes eligibility criteria for patients and healthcare facilities, mandates informed consent procedures, and outlines the responsibilities of physicians recommending such treatments
STATUS: Passed the Senate, Passed House Committee, Placed on a Calendar
HB 1644 (Oliverson): This bill makes it legal for people to carry and use test strips or similar tools that detect dangerous drugs like fentanyl or xylazine. These tools help prevent accidental overdoses by allowing someone to check if a substance is contaminated—whether for themselves or to help protect others.
STATUS: Passed the Texas House, Referred to Senate Committee (4/24)
SB 670 (Hughes): Allows patients to access sun protection products that have completed Phase I clinical trials but are not yet approved by the FDA. Eligible patients must consult with their physician, who must determine that existing FDA-approved products are less effective. Manufacturers may provide these investigational products to patients, with or without compensation.
STATUS: Passed the Senate, Passed House Committee, Placed on a Calendar
SB 2429 (Hughes): Senate Bill 2429, known as the Texas Genomic Act of 2025, establishes regulations to protect the genetic information of Texas residents from access by foreign adversaries. It prohibits medical and research entities from using genome sequencing technologies produced by or affiliated with foreign adversaries, and restricts the sale or transfer of genomic data during bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings to such entities. The bill mandates that genomic data be stored within the United States with appropriate security measures, requires annual compliance certification to the Attorney General, and allows for civil penalties and private legal actions in cases of violations.
STATUS: Passed Senate Committee
SB 269 (Perry): Mandates that physicians report serious adverse events experienced by patients within one year of receiving certain vaccines or drugs—specifically those that are experimental, investigational, or approved for emergency use by the FDA—to the appropriate federal systems, such as the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) or the FDA's MedWatch program. The bill defines "serious adverse events" to include outcomes like death, life-threatening conditions, hospitalization, significant disability, congenital anomalies, or other medically significant conditions. Non-compliance may result in corrective or disciplinary actions by the Texas Medical Board.
STATUS: Passed Senate Committee, Passed House Committee (5/8)
SB 407 (Middleton): Mandates that health care facilities in Texas must allow exemptions from required vaccines for employees who object based on reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. Facilities are prohibited from denying such exemptions for any reason.
STATUS: Passed Texas Senate, Referred to House Committee (4/30)
SB 619 (Sparks): Allows health care providers to refuse participation in specific health care services due to personal moral or religious beliefs, excluding emergency care and life-sustaining treatment. The bill prohibits discrimination against providers exercising this right and requires health care facilities to establish protocols ensuring patient access to declined services.
STATUS: Passed Texas Senate, Referred to House Committee (5/2)
SB 2308 (Parker) This bill would create a grant program to help fund partnerships between the state and private companies working to get FDA approval for using ibogaine to treat opioid addiction and other mental health issues. To qualify, groups must be able to run clinical trials, plan to base operations in Texas, and agree to share the benefits if their work leads to new patents.
STATUS: Passed House and Senate
HB 1586 (Hull): This bill proposes to simplify the process for obtaining exemptions from required school immunizations by making the affidavit form downloadable from the Department of State Health Services website, eliminating the need for a physical seal, and prohibiting the collection of personal information from individuals accessing or submitting the form
STATUS: Passed House
HB 4076 (Leach) – Seeks to prohibit discrimination against organ transplant recipients based on their vaccination status, ensuring that individuals are not denied access to transplantation solely due to their immunization choices.
STATUS: Passed House
HB 4535 (McQueeney) – Aims to establish specific requirements for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, potentially affecting how these vaccines are distributed and administered within the state.
STATUS: Passed House
HB 3441 (Luther) – Proposes to hold vaccine manufacturers liable for advertising harmful vaccines, potentially impacting how vaccines are marketed and the legal responsibilities of manufacturers.
STATUS: Passed House
HB 3233 (Harris) – Prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from storing or processing patient data for Texas residents outside the United States, aiming to enhance data security and privacy.
STATUS: Passed House
AFFORDABILITY/ACCESS:
SB 815 (Schwertner): This bill prohibits utilization review agents from using artificial intelligence-based algorithms as the sole basis for decisions to deny, delay, or modify healthcare services based on medical necessity or appropriateness. It mandates that only a physician or licensed healthcare provider can make such determinations. Additionally, the bill grants the commissioner authority to audit and inspect the use of artificial intelligence in utilization reviews at any time.
STATUS: Passed the Senate, Passed House Committee & In Calendars (5/5)
SB 1822 (Johnson): requires health insurers and HMOs to disclose if they use AI in making care decisions, posting this info online and sharing it with patients and providers. They must ensure the AI is fair, follows clinical guidelines, and avoids bias. Each year, they must submit the AI tools and training data to the state for review.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Heard in Committee
SB 1098 (Blanco): This bill mandates that pharmacies disclose to patients the lowest cash price available at that pharmacy for prescribed drugs or biological products. If this cash price is lower than the patient's insurance copayment, the pharmacist must offer the patient the option to pay the lower price instead of the copayment.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Hearing Scheduled (5/19)
SB 493 (Kolkhorst): Prohibits health benefit plan issuers and pharmacy benefit managers from restricting pharmacists or pharmacies from informing enrollees about differences between their out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs when using insurance and the costs without submitting a claim. This measure aims to enhance transparency, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about purchasing prescription medications.
STATUS: Passed the Senate, Passed House Committee, Placed on Calendar
SB 331(Kolkhorst): This bill broadens the types of health care facilities required to provide clear billing information to patients. It adds places like urgent care clinics, birthing centers, and surgical centers to the list, ensuring they must disclose pricing and billing details, similar to hospitals.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Heard in Committee
SB 1318 (Schwertner): SB 1318 limits non-compete agreements for doctors and other healthcare workers to help patients get better access to care. These agreements can’t last more than a year, can only apply within five miles, and must include a buyout option capped at the provider’s yearly pay. The rules apply to physicians, dentists, nurses, and physician assistants.
STATUS: Passed Senate, Passed House Committee and in Calendars
HB 1027 (Shaheen): Amends the Occupations Code to broaden the use of telepharmacy systems by removing previous restrictions on facility types and geographic locations. Eliminates mileage limitations and specific facility requirements, allowing provider pharmacies to operate telepharmacy systems in any area, thereby increasing access to pharmaceutical services across the state.
STATUS: Passed Texas House
HB 1266 (Guillen): Establishes an expedited credentialing process for physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who join established medical groups contracted with managed care plans. Eligible practitioners, upon meeting specific criteria, are to be treated as participating providers for payment purposes during the credentialing period, ensuring timely compensation for services rendered.
Status: Passed Texas House (4/30)
HB 1314 (Hickland): Requires health care facilities to give patients written cost estimates for elective procedures within 24 hours of a request. Final bills can’t exceed the estimate by more than 5% unless complications arise, with written explanation. If they don’t comply, facilities can’t collect payment or take legal or credit action.
STATUS: Passed Texas House, Passed Senate Committee
HB 1612 (Frank): Allows patients without health benefit plan coverage to pay hospitals directly for services, provided payment is made within 60 days of billing. Limits charges to no more than 25% above the hospital's lowest contracted rate with insurers, excluding Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare rates.
STATUS: Passed Texas House, Passed Senate Committee
HB 1731 (Campos) Proposes that Texas join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, enabling physician assistants (PAs) licensed in member states to practice across state lines without obtaining additional licenses. The compact establishes uniform licensure requirements and facilitates information sharing among participating states.
STATUS: Passed Texas House
HB 1803 (Harless): This bill proposes that Texas join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, facilitating license portability and practice across member states. The compact aims to expedite licensure, enhance public protection through shared information, and support military personnel and spouses in obtaining licenses without additional fees. It establishes a commission to oversee the compact's implementation and ensures that each state retains the authority to regulate dental practice within its borders.
STATUS: Passed Texas House (5/8)
HB 2254 (Hull): The bill bars insurers from penalizing primary care doctors who opt out of value-based or capitated payment contracts. It protects their fee schedules, network participation, and right to file complaints over discrimination. Contracts must not interfere with medical judgment or discourage necessary care.
STATUS: Passed Texas House, Passed Senate Committee
HB 879 (Frank): streamlines the licensing process for military veterans who served as physicians or nurses. It allows those who left active duty in Texas within the past year and hold an out-of-state medical or nursing license to obtain a Texas license, provided they pass the state’s jurisprudence exam. However, individuals discharged for misconduct, under investigation, or with certain criminal histories are excluded from this expedited path.
STATUS: Passed Texas House and Senate
HB 2038 (Oliverson): This bill, known as the Decreasing Occupational Certification Timelines, Obstacles, and Regulations (DOCTOR) Act, proposes the issuance of provisional medical licenses to certain foreign-trained physicians who have secured employment offers in Texas. It also facilitates the licensing of military veterans who have recently served as physicians in the armed forces and are licensed in another state. Additionally, the bill ensures that insured individuals have the right to select these license holders under their health policies.
STATUS: Passed Texas House (5/6)
HB 3015 (Alders) – Proposes allowing direct primary care fees to count toward insurance deductibles in certain state health benefit plans, including those under the Employees Retirement System and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
STATUS: Passed Texas House
HB 216 (Harris Davila) – Requires health care providers to issue itemized bills for services and supplies, mandating that if a patient hasn't created an online portal profile, a paper copy must be mailed, with violations subject to disciplinary action by the provider’s licensing authority.
STATUS: Passed Texas House