2021 Bill Tracker

2021 Texas Legislature

Commercial Insurance – Sunset

HB 1860 – Rep. CyrierThe bill would push the Texas Department of Insurance’s Sunset review from 2023 to 2025. It would also include Workers’ Comp.

Commercial Health Insurance

HB 571 – Rep. GatesThe bill would create bundled payments for state employee health plans.

HB 573 and SB 1271 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. SchwertnerThe bill relates to health sharing ministry health plans.

HB 620 – Rep. Julie JohnsonThe bill would require health plans to label all insurance cards with an HMO or PPO designation.

SB 124 and HB 578 – Sen. Nathan Johnson and Rep. John TurnerThe bill relates to health literacy programs in the state of Texas.

SB 519 – Sen. SchwertnerThe bill would prohibit HMOs from using extrapolation to complete an audit of a participating provider.

SB 436 – Sen. BlancoThe bill would prohibit plans regulated by the state from defining Covid-19 as a pre-existing condition.

HB 1369 – Rep. JettonThe bill relates to the regulation of health care cost-sharing ministries.

SB 749, HB 1529, and HB 1541 – Sen. Johnson, Rep. Martinez Fischer, and Rep. JohnsonThe bill would establish comprehensive preexisting condition protections in Texas statute to mirror the federal protections of the Affordable Care Act.

HB 2276 – Rep. Lucio IIIThe bill relates to the consent to electronic delivery of information.

HB 2389 – Rep. MoodyThe bill would require HMOs to provide additional explanation as to why they terminated a physician from the network. Information would include an economic profile.

HB 2600 – Rep. PaulThe bill would direct the state to study the fiscal impact of commercial insurance mandates.

HB 2929 – Rep. BonnenThe bill would add additional “teeth” to the state’s current law related to the unlawful termination of a physician from a health plan’s network.

HB 3558 – Rep. MunozThe bill would prohibit a health plan from downgrading a payment if the suspected emergency is no longer determined to be an emergency following the fact.

SB 1296 – Sen. Nathan JohnsonThe bill would give the TDI commissioner the ability to review and disapprove certain rate increases.

SB 1442 – Sen. CampbellThe bill relates to regulation of health care sharing ministries; providing civil penalties.

HB 3947 – Rep. MunozThe bill would add additional cost estimate requirements that health plans must provide to insureds.

SB 2124 – Sen. BlancoThe bill relates to the authority of a health benefit plan sponsor to consent to electronic delivery of certain communications on behalf of a party enrolled in the plan.

Commercial Insurance – Anti-Competition

HB 4051 – Rep. FrankThe bill would add new standards to the state’s statute that prevents anti-competitive behavior between providers and insurance plans.

Commercial Health Insurance – Bundled Payments

HB 1527 – Rep. GatesThe bill would created bundled payment programs for the state’s employee health plans: ERS and TRS.

Commercial Health Insurance – Coverage

HB 3752 – Rep. FrankThe bill relates to the provision of health benefits coverage through the creation of the Texas Mutual Health Coverage Plan.

HB 3924 and SB 1973 –  Rep. Oliverson and Sen. SpringerThe bill would create a new insurance plan that avoids some of the Affordable Care Act requirements through the Texas Farm Bureau.

Commercial Health Insurance – Emergency Care

HB 2035 – Rep. Julie JohnsonThe bill relates to the utilization review of emergency care claims under health plans.

HB 2241 and SB 1037 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. WhitmireThe bill would update the state’s “prudent layperson” law to ensure that commercial health plans cannot deny a payment due to a non-emergent diagnosis following a surgery.

Commercial Insurance – Out-of-Network

SB 999 and HB 4115 – Sen. Hancock and Rep. OliversonThe bill would prohibit ground EMS from balance billing for out-of-network emergency services. The bill would create an exception for non-emergent transport if the patient is provided with certain disclosures prior to the service.

Commercial Health Insurance – Price Transparency

HB 1907 and SB 1135 – Rep. Walle and Sen. KolkhorstThe bill, which is pushed by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, would create an all payor claims database for the state of Texas.

HB 2090 – Rep. BurrowsThe bill relates to health care cost disclosures by third party administrators.

SB 914 and HB 2487 and SB 1137 – Sen. Hancock and Rep. Oliverson and Sen. Kolkhorst – The bill would require hospitals to disclose a certain set of standard charges and other prices.

SB 1845 – Sen. SchwertnerThe bill relates to itemized billing for health care services and supplies provided by health care providers.

SB 2122 – Sen. HughesThe bill relates to itemized billing for health care services and supplies provided by health care providers.

Commercial Health Insurance – Prior Authorization

HB 410 – Rep. Julie Johnson – Per the bill’s author, the bill “focuses on decreasing the barriers that health insurance companies put up in order to receive state mandated coverage. The Texas Insurance Code specifies certain mandated benefits that certain health plans must cover. However, barriers to patient care, such as prior authorization, can still occur even with state mandated coverage. In HB 410 the following mandated benefits, prior authorization may not be required: mammography, mastectomy and breast reconstruction or prosthesis, diabetes management, low bone mass test for osteoporosis prevention, and prostate cancer screenings.”

HB 907 and SB 2043 – Rep. Julie Johnson and Sen. MenendezThe bill relates to the prior authorization of drugs for autoimmune diseases.

HB 2142 – Rep. VoThe bill would require the Texas Department of Insurance to perform regular examinations of health plans and HMOs to review their timelines for prior authorization requests.

HB 3459 and SB 1883 – Rep. Bonnen and Sen. BuckinghamThe bill would create a “gold card” standard in which a physician who is approved for at least 80 percent of services (minimum of five) during a calendar year would not be subject to prior authorization.

Additionally, it would require commercial health plans to give a physician a reasonable opportunity to speak to a physician located and licensed in Texas who is of a same or similar specialty for a prior-authorization request.

HB 3542 and SB 2048 – Rep. Julie Johnson and Sen. Menendez – The bill would require health plans, HMOs and utilization review agents to be available 24/7 to respond to verification requests so that physicians are available.

HB 4012 – Rep. BonnenThe bill would require health plans to disclose patient costs to patients for pre-authorized services.

HB 4531 – Rep. OliversonThe bill would prohibit a health plan from denying care if a preauthorization was approved within the previous 31 days.

HB 1145 – Rep. Julie JohnsonThe bill would eliminate pre-authorization requirements for physicians who have in-network status.

Commercial Health Insurance – Risk Pool

SB 745 – Sen. JohnsonThe bill would create a high-risk pool for the state of Texas.

HB 2176 and SB 874 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. HancockThe bill would extend the state’s temporary high-risk pool.

Covid-19 Funding

SB 809 – Sen. KolkhorstThe bill would require health care “providers” that receive federal funding related to Covid-19 (CARES Act, etc.) to compile a written report related to the funding’s use, and the report would be provided to Texas officials.

Health Insurance – Personal Injury/Auto Accidents/Liens

SB 207 and HB 1617 – Sens. Schwertner, Buckingham, and Campbell and Rep. Bonnen – The bill would make physicians’ commercial insurance rates available for the purposes of determining medical expenses in personal injury cases.

HB 621 – Rep. Julie Johnson – Per the bill’s author, the bill “proposes that health insurance companies may not delay or deny payment of a claim based on secondary coverage to third party liability. After a car wreck, the last thing that an individual should worry about is a denial or delay of payment of a health insurance claim when they thought they had coverage. Unfortunately, many doctors refuse to see patients who have been involved in a car wreck out of previous bad experiences with insurance companies who refuse to reimburse them for services rendered based on secondary coverage to third-party liability This bill will eliminate this issue.”

HB 2064 – Rep. LeachThe bill relates to the amount of physician or hospital liens on certain causes of action.

Facilities

HB 813 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill would create a criminal offense of harassment for obstructing access to a hospital.

HB 1491 – Rep. DeanThe bill would expand the tort claims cap of $100,000 to rural and community hospitals (even if they are not governmental).

HB 1089 – Rep. ReynoldsThe bill would raise the cap on lawsuits related to governmental hospitals from $100,000 to $250,000. It would also allow for punitive damages and make insurance policies discoverable.

HB 2052 – Rep. KlickThe bill would give the public access to certain hospital records.

HB 3605 – Rep. John TurnerThe bill would add a representative from the ambulatory surgery center industry to the state’s GETAC advisory council. 

HB 3661 – Rep. DeanThe bill would require board members of rural hospitals located in counties with a population of 60,000 to complete training based on requirements and standards determined by the Center for Optimizing Rural Health of the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Insitute or a successor organization.

SB 1073 – Sen. HughesThe bill relates to Medicaid draw-down programs in Texas regions and the assessments levied on all hospitals in that region.

SB 1195 – Sen. PaxtonThe bill relates to the right of certain hospital patients to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.

HB 4118 and SB 429 – Rep. Rose and Sen. MilesThe bill would require ASCs and hospitals to develop a surgical smoke policy.

HB 4501 – Rep. HinojosaThe bill relates to permissible uses of funds by a hospital district that receives a mandatory payment under Chapter 298E, Health & Safety Code.

SB 2031 – Sen. EckhardtThe bill relates to permissible uses of funds by a hospital district that receives a mandatory payment under Chapter 298E, Health & Safety Code (Travis County).

SB 2038 – Sen. MenendezThe bill relates to fees and prices charged by freestanding emergency medical care facilities; providing administrative penalties.

Medicaid

HB 2603 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill would create a direct primary care pilot for Medicaid.

HB 2856 – Rep. SwansonThe bill relates to “provider discrimination against a Medicaid recipient or child health plan program enrollee based on immunization status.”

HB 290 – Rep. CortezThe  bill would provide continuity of care for some children on Medicaid. HB 290 is moving through the House. But the Senate companion has not been heard in its committee. The House announced in April that it was one of its top health priorities.

HB 133 – Rep. RoseThe bill would give pregnant women covered under Medicaid an additional 10 months of coverage. The bill is moving through the House. However, a Senate companion has yet to experience movement. The House announced in April that it was one of its top health priorities.

Medical Billing

HB 3031 – Rep. KlickThe bill would update the state’s egregious billing law for physicians and hospitals by adding the following language: “flagrantly overcharge a patient or third party payor for a treatment provided to the patient.”

HB 2797 – Rep. DeanThe bill targets freestanding ERs and would penalize them for charging “high prices” for testing during a pandemic.

HB 4045 and SB 1684 – Rep. Martinez and Sen. PowellThe bill would prohibit providers from reporting bad patient debt.

SB 2122 – Sen. HughesThe bill would require physicians and other providers that are submitting medical bills to debt collection provide an itemized copy.

Medical Cannabis

HB 1535 – Rep. Klick – Numerous bills have been filed, but this bill represents the best attempt at passage in the Legislature. It would set up a tightly controlled system that would limit cannabis prescriptions to physicians affiliated with medical schools.

Medical Disclosure Panel

HB 2853 – Rep. Julie JohnsonThe bill would update the makeup of the state’s Medical Disclosure Panel. Specifically, at least one of the lawyers on the panel would be required to represent patients in his or her practice.

Medical Imaging

HB 2541 – Rep. MezaThe bill would create a right-to-repair policy related to medical equipment, including advanced imaging.

Mid-Level Providers

SB 40 – Sen. ZaffiriniThe bill relates to the use of telemedicine within professionals administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

HB 514 – Rep. BeckleyThe bill would allow physician assistants to become governing officers in medical practices. A similar measure failed in 2019.

HB 982 – Rep. HowardThe bill relates to expedited licensing for out-of-state APRNs.

SB 497 – Sen. BuckinghamThe bill would create a certificate for anesthesiologist assistants. The bill was defeated by CRNAs in the past.

SB 458  and HB 1903 – Sen. Lucio and Rep. WalleThe bill would create the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

HB 2029 – Rep. KlickThe bill would give full practice authority and independent practice to APRNs.

HB 2093 – Rep. CortezThe bill would add physician assistants to the definition of non-physician mental health professionals for the purpose of providing certain care.

HB 3254 – Rep. MorrisonThe bill would clarify statute to indicate that an athletic trainer can work under a physician’s delegation in a setting other than the “athletic arena.”

HB 3327 – Rep. JettonThe bill would create an anesthesiologist assistant license.

SB 1103 and HB 4159 – Sen. Seliger and Rep. John Turner – The bill relates to the regulation of nurse aides; requiring an occupational registration.

HB 4048 – Rep. AllisonThe bill relates to the authority of an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant regarding death certificates.

Mid-Level Providers – Physician Assistants

HB 4352 – Rep. BeckleyThe bill would remove physician delegation from a PA’s portfolio and replace it with “collaboration.” The bill would also allow a PA to “diagnose” a medical event and add “surgical services” to a PA’s portfolio.

SB 1752 – Sen. Nathan JohnsonThe bill relates to the authority of an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant, or physician, regarding death certificates and certain do-not-resuscitate orders.

Mid-Level Providers – Physical Therapy

SB 455 and HB 1363 – Sen. Hughes and Rep. MinjarezThe bill would add board-certified physical therapists to the list of physical therapists (resident- and fellowship- trained) physical therapists who may have 15 business days of direct access. All other physical therapists have 10 business days.

SB 939 – Sen. GutierrezThe bill relates to co-pays for physical therapy services.

SB 940 and HB 3755 – Sen. Gutierrez and Rep. MinjarezThe bill relates to co-pays for physical therapy services.

Mid-Level Providers – Podiatry

HB 2509 and SB 956 – Rep. Lucio III and Sen. LucioThe bill would amend the state’s GME law to include the state’s new DPM law.

Military Medical

HB 2365 – Rep. LopezThe bill relates to the participation and reimbursement of Texas military medical facilities in relation to Medicaid.

Pharmacy

HB 2049 – Rep. HowardThe bill would give pharmacists the ability to provide a prescription to a patient following a positive test, such as a flu test, under a physician’s supervision.

Pharmacy – PBMs

A number of bills related to PBMs have been filed.

Pharmacy – Physician Dispensing

HB 456 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill would allow physicians to dispense drugs.

HB 1778 and SB 1503 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. Buckingham – According to the author, “the goal of the bill is to permit physicians to dispense drugs from their offices. This bill seeks to improve access to prescription medications through removing a barrier to care. It requires physicians to comply with state and federal laws relating to labeling, storage, packaging, and record keeping and to notify the Texas State Board of Pharmacy that they are dispensing drugs from their office. Interested parties contend that these regulations will prevent pharmaceutical abuse. Stakeholders assert that H.B. 1778 will provide patients with an option to access prescription drugs more quickly and conveniently.”

Physician Licensing

SB 284 – Sen. Seliger – The bill would direct the Texas Medical Board to study the number and geographic disbursement of out-of-state physicians who practiced in Texas during the pandemic.

HB 457 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill would seek a property tax exemption for physicians who provide Medicaid care.

HB 471 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill would direct the Texas Medical Board to recognize medical licenses offered in other states under certain circumstances.

HB 548 and SB 1909 – Rep. Frank and Sen. BlancoThe bill would direct the Texas Medical Board to recognize the license of certain military physicians for the purpose of practicing in underserved areas.

HB 651 – Rep. RaymondThe bill relates to the regulation of hyperbaric medical treatment in a physician’s office.

SB 145 – Sen. PowellThe bill relates to the licensing of military personnel and spouses.

HB 194 – Rep. ThierryThe bill would require physicians who practice in primary care to complete CME in implicit bias.

HB 197 – Rep. Thierry – Similar to HB 194, the bill would require medical school students to have coursework in implicit bias.

SB 517 – Sen. HuffmanThe bill would add Texas to the Physician Interstate Licensure Compact. While most health care professions have been added to their respective interstate compacts in the past, indirect political issues killed past efforts for physicians.

HB 1424 – Rep. Oliverson – Current law allows physicians and providers to opt out of providing an abortion service if it conflicts with their religious or moral thinking. The bill would add “other medical services” to the exemption.

HB 2493 – Rep. MoralesThe bill would provide certain loan repayments to physicians and providers who work in counties with a population of less than 100,000.

HB 3559 – Rep. CookThe bill relates to Texas Medical Board complaints against a physician.

SB 961 – Sen. HughesThe bill relates to physician complaints at the Texas Medical Board.

SB 963 and HB 1780 – Sen. Hughes and Rep. JettonThe bill is in response to the pandemic and would allow a physician or nurse from another state to practice in Texas if their license is in good standing in their home state.

SB 1490 – Sen. CreightonThe bill relates to MD, DO, JD, DVM and DDS degrees and would prevent the Higher Education Coordinating Board from giving degree status to private institutions if the institutions cannot meet certain standards.

HB 3735 and SB 2115 – Rep. Howard and Sen. Lucio – The bill would require a licensing agency that receives a complaint for a physician or other clinician to forward it immediately to the correct licensing agency.

HB 4439 and SB 961 – Rep. Sanford and Sen. HughesThe bill relates to complaint information and disciplinary procedures of the Texas Medical Board.

HB 4523 – Rep. ZwienerThe bill relates to license examination attempt limits for physicians.

SB 1502 – Sen. BuckinghamThe bill would direct the Texas Medical Board to list a physician’s specialty as it is based on the physician’s initial specialty qualification and not on maintenance of certification.

SB 1674 – Sen. HallThe bill relates to protection of individuals from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.

SB 1705 – Sen. BlancoThe bill would update the state’s human trafficking education requirement for physicians.

SB 1857 – Sen. PowellThe bill relates to the issuance of temporary licenses for certain out-of-state health care practitioners for a charitable purpose.

SB 1895 – Sen. HuffmanThe bill relates to a Texas Medical Board complaint for a violation described by Section 22.011 (b) (12), Penal Code.

SB 1414 and HB 3434 – Sen. Huffman and Rep. OliversonThe bill would give physicians who are also completing a PhD extra time to complete licensing requirements.

Prescription Drugs/Biologics

HB 1033 and SB 875 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. HancockThe bill addresses a 2019 law that creates disclosure requirements for drug companies that increase drug costs. This “clean-up bill” would add enforcement measure for cases in which a drug company fails to provide disclosure related to price increases.

HB 1584 – Rep. Lucio IIIThe bill would define the term “redispense” as it relates to compound drugs.

HB 1586 – Rep. Lucio IIIThe bill would require health plans to allow a patient to secure a specialty drug from a physician’s office or hospital outpatient infusion center.

HB 2185 – Rep. ParkerThe bill would add protections for physicians for the off-label use of certain drugs.

SB 844 – Sen. SchwertnerThe bill would repeal certain aspects of ERISA as they relate to  pharmacy benefits.

SB 1142 – Sen. ZaffiriniThe bill relates to modification of certain prescription drug benefits and coverage offered by certain health benefit plans.

SB 1820 – Sen. BettencourtThe bill relates to the promotion of off-label uses of certain drugs, biological products, and devices.

HB 18 and HB 2981 – Rep. OliversonThe bill relates to the establishment of the prescription drug savings program for certain uninsured individuals.

Prescription Drugs – Opioids

HB 847 – Rep. ThierryThe bill would require pharmacists to place a warning label on opioid prescriptions.

HB 848 – Rep. ThierryThe bill would require distinctive packaging for opioids.

HB 849 – Rep. ThierryThe bill would require the state of Texas to create a brochure about the risks of opioids and require pharmacists to secure an acknowledgement from the patient.

HB 1524 – Rep. Lucio IIIThe bill would give Schedule II authority to PAs and NPs.

HB 2117 – Rep. PriceThe bill would create an informed consent mandate for physicians to prescribe opioids.

HB 3365 and SB 1794- Rep. Klick and Sen. WestThe bill would create an opioid council to determine the distribution of the funds related to the attorney general’s settlement with opioid manufacturers.

HB 4284 – Rep. HollandThe bill would create the state’s opioid abatement account based on the attorney general’s settlement with opioid manufacturers.

HB 4408 and SB 2095 – Rep. Price and Sen. Powell – The bill would allow a pharmacist to provide an opioid antagonist under certain circumstances to a patient who has been prescribed an opioid.

SB 1827 – Sen. HuffmanThe bill relates to the creation of the opioid abatement account.

Professional Liability Insurance

HB 501 – Rep. WuThe bill would immediately raise the state’s cap on non-economic damages from $250,000 to $342,265. In addition, it would include an index for inflation to raise the cap in the future.

SB 232 – Sen. JohnsonThe bill would allow plaintiffs to file a motion in personal injury cases to determine if the expert under Chapter 74 is required.

SB 493 – Sen. JohnsonThe bill would require nursing homes to carry a minimum of $300,000/$1 million liability policy. Nursing homes that are owned and operated by governmental units would be required to maintain insurance coverage for the cap amounts specified by the Texas Tort Claims Act.

HB 2406 and SB 1106 – Rep. Davis and Sen. Hughes – The bill relates to the casual relationship under Texas Rules of Evidence as it relates to expert witnesses in physician and chiropractor cases.

HB 3747 – Rep. SmithThe bill relates to the liability of health care providers for certain claims arising during a disaster or emergency.

HB 3748 – Rep. SmithThe bill relates to the liability of health care providers for certain claims arising during a pandemic.

HB 3984 – Rep. DavisThe bill relates to service of expert reports for health care liability claims.

Professional Liability – Lawsuits – Covid-19

SB 6 – Sen. Hancock – The bill would create Covid-19 liability protections.

HB 4481 – Rep. OliversonThe bill relates to civil liability arising from Covid-19.

Public Health – Advance Directives

HB 936 – Rep. RaymondThe bill would extend liability protections to physicians and providers related to following an advanced directive if they were not aware of questions related to the validity of the directive.

SB 917 and HB 2609 – Sen. Hughes and Rep. ParkerThe bill relates to advance directives.

HB 2943 – Rep. FrankThe bill relates to DNR orders in hospitals.

HB 3099 – Rep. ColemanThe bill relates to advance directives.

SB 1381 – Sen. CreightonThe bill relates to advance directives.

HB 2810 and SB 1934 – Rep. Moody and Sen. HughesThe bill relates to the authority granted under and form of a medical power of attorney.

Public Health – Child Abuse Pediatricians

SB 1578 – Sen. KolkhorstThe bill would create a study related to the work of child abuse pediatricians in the state of Texas.

HB 3820 – Rep. KlickThe bill would add orthopaedic surgeons to the list of specialists to whom a referral is required by a child abuse pediatrician.

Scope of Practice

HB 70 – Rep. SwansonThe bill would give the Legislature additional authority to review regulatory rules created by state agencies by requiring a legislative committee to meet within 40 days and the full chamber to vote within 75 days.

HJR 6 – Rep. SwansonThe resolution would create a constitutional amendment related to additional authority for the Legislature to review regulatory rules created by state agencies.

SB 915 and HB 2029 – Sen. Hancock and Rep. KlickThe bill would give independent practice to APRNs and remove the need for physician supervision.

HB 2340 and SB 993 – Rep. Klick and Sen. HancockThe bill would give optometrists the ability to perform surgery and manage glaucoma in Texas.

HB 2596 – Rep. PattersonThe bill would define “urgent care clinic” under Texas law and add it to the list of facilities that would require clinicians to wear name badges that clearly identify their professions: physician, nurse, etc.

HB 2960 – Rep. SanfordThe bill would prohibit a health plan from giving patients more information about the differences between ophthalmologists and optometrists, other than the professional degree.

HB 4362 – Rep. KlickThe bill is an omnibus bill that incorporates both APRN independence and surgery for optometrists.

Scope of Practice – Chiropractors

HB 943 – Rep. RaymondThe bill relates to a chiropractor’s ability to perform acupuncture.

SB 293 – Sen. PerryThe bill would amend the chiropractors’ practice to give them the ability to perform services related to the “neuromusculoskeletal system.” The issue was heard by the Texas Supreme Court in the fall of 2020.

Sports Medicine

SB 203 – Sen. SchwertnerThe bill relates to statewide competition locations for UIL activities.

HB 2605 – Rep. RosenthalThe bill would require student athletes to sign a sudden cardiac arrest acknowledgment form.

HB 3449 – Rep. Price – The bill would allow any licensed health care professional to be added to a school’s concussion oversight team.

Taxes

HB 1445 and SB 775 – Rep. Oliverson and Sen. Nichols – The bill would repeal the state’s tax on outsourced medical billing.

HB 1195 and SB 372 – Rep. Geren and Sen. HancockThe bill would remove the state’s franchise tax on PPP loans.

HB 1389 – Rep. GuillenThe bill relates to prepayment tax amounts related to credit card payments.

SB 438 – Sen. Blanco – The bill would exempt disinfectant and certain face masks and disposable gloves from sales tax for a limited period of time.

SB 873 – Sen. HancockThe bill relates to the disclosure by the comptroller to the purchaser of a business of the amount of tax due.

HB 2704 – Rep. MorrisonThe bill relates to the treatment of certain LLCs as passive entities for purposes of the franchise tax.

SB 1203 and HB 3364 – Sen. Hancock and Rep. Chris TurnerThe bill relates to LLCs and partnerships. 

SB 1853 – Sen. PowellThe bill relates to a temporary exemption from sales and use taxes for certain personal protective equipment.

Telemedicine

HB 4 – Rep. Price – The bill is the House’s telemedicine priority bill. The bill is the same as HB 974 and SB 412.

HB 280 – Rep. CortezThe bill relates to an action plan to expand telemedicine medical services and telehealth services and increase access to critical medical care and health care services in this state.

SB 228, HB 980 and HB 522 – Sen. Blanco, Rep. Fiero and Rep. Julie Johnson – The bill relates to the reimbursement and payment of claims by certain health benefit plan issuers for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services

HB 745 – Rep. GuerraThe bill relates to the establishment of telehealth programs by public schools.

HB 887 – Rep. ShaheenThe bill relates to telemedicine medical services and telehealth services covered by certain health benefit plans or provided by a pharmacist.

HB 974 and SB 412 – Rep. Price and Sen. BuckinghamThe bill would extend telemedicine for certain Medicaid services.

HB 3499 and SB 992 – Rep. Frank and Sen. Hancock – The bill would allow a health care provider located outside of Texas to provide telemedicine services to Texans.

Workers’ Comp – Orthopaedics

HB 1860 – Rep. CyrierThe bill would push the Texas Department of Insurance’s Sunset review from 2023 to 2025. It would also include Workers’ Comp.

HB 3042 – Rep. PattersonThe bill would give the Commissioner the authority to review and change the treatment and return-to-work guidelines at any time through the rule-making process.

HB 3098 – Rep. CasonThe bill would allow MMI exams to be conducted through telehealth.

HB 3517 – Rep. CookThe bill would allow certain physicians who have been removed from the Workers’ Comp program to be reinstated.

HB 3622 and SB 1852 – Rep. Hefner and Sen PowellThe bill is similar to HB 3517.

HB 3818 – Rep. GuillenThe bill would direct TDI-DWC to pay physicians for injured employee no-show exams.

Workers’ Comp – Coverage

HB 776 and SB 305 – Rep. Walle and Sen. EckhardtThe bill relates to Workers’ Comp coverage for additional employees in Texas.

HB 4469 – Rep. Cecil BellThe bill relates to the provision of workers’ compensation insurance and group accident and health insurance together in a packaged plan.