All Roll Calls
Yes: 472 • No: 102
TexasHB 13889th Legislature Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program; authorizing a fee.
Sponsored By: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Jay Dean, Stan Gerdes, Lacey Hull, Jeff Leach, Dennis Paul
Became Law
Insurance--Health & AccidentLegislatureState Finances--Management & ControlUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTONCOMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTSINSURANCE, COMMISSIONER OF
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Texas lawmakers get health coverage analyses
The law requires a health coverage analysis program by January 1, 2026, at UTHealth Houston's Center for Health Care Data. It studies proposed requirements to cover services, change provider payments, or add contract or administrative duties. The lieutenant governor, House speaker, and appropriate legislative committee chairs or vice chairs can request studies at any time. Requests must include the legislative text and cannot cover laws already enacted. Studies estimate dollar changes in total coverage costs, service use, administrative expenses, and public and private spending. They cover patients, insurers, providers, employers, plan sponsors, state and local retirement systems, and local governments. Reports examine public health, hospital stays, communicable disease, prevention, early deaths, current coverage denials, and service availability without the proposed requirement. They use the statewide all-payer claims database and peer-reviewed research, and review federal agency guidance and national clinical guidelines. Reports must explain when reliable estimates are unavailable and estimate costs or savings for the first calendar year and at least the first two calendar years after the proposed law takes effect. Program employees cannot also work for, own, or hold another personal interest in a health plan issuer or administrator. The Center may require conflict-of-interest statements. The program itself does not change household coverage or costs.
Health insurers face cost reporting rules
The program can request administrative-cost data from insurers affected by a proposed health plan requirement. The insurance commissioner must issue the data request within 30 days, or within 10 days during a regular legislative session. Affected issuers must respond to the extent the commissioner determines a response is necessary. Responses are due by the later of 10 days after issuance or the date set by the Center. Issuers must use the required form and standardized fields and explain how they calculated their answers. Individual responses are confidential and exempt from Texas Public Information Act disclosure. The program must publish combined results by category or field and include the disclosed calculation methods in its report.
Health insurers pay new annual fees
The comptroller charges health plan issuers under Insurance Code Chapters 843 or 1301 an annual fee for the analysis program. The fee covers estimated program expenses and is divided among issuers based on their number of covered people. Fees can change each state fiscal biennium to reflect higher costs or program deficits. Plans under Chapters 1551, 1575, 1579, and 1601 are exempt, as are issuers operating only as Medicaid managed care organizations. Payment is due by August 1 each year. For calendar year 2025 only, payment is due as soon as practicable after assessment; that special rule expires January 1, 2027. By March 1 each year, the Center must submit its estimated funding needs for each fiscal biennium. The insurance department must also report the preceding calendar year's covered-person counts to the comptroller by March 1. Fee revenue may be appropriated only to the Center for its program duties. The law sets no fixed fee amount or household premium change.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Jay Dean
House
Stan Gerdes
House
Lacey Hull
House
Jeff Leach
House
Dennis Paul
House
Cosponsors
Jeff Barry
House
César Blanco
Democratic • Senate
Hancock
Affiliation unavailable
Matt Morgan
House
Katrina Pierson
House
David Spiller
House
Trey Wharton
House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/28/2025
Record vote
Yes: 128 • No: 4
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 5/1/2025
Record vote
Yes: 141 • No: 3
House vote • 4/30/2025
Record vote
Yes: 52 • No: 91
House vote • 4/30/2025
Record vote
Yes: 137 • No: 4
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Insurance
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Health & Human Services
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective immediately
6/20/2025HouseFiled without the Governor's signature
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
5/31/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
5/31/2025SenateSigned in the House
5/30/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/29/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
5/28/2025SenateText of Senate Amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3948)
5/28/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)
5/28/2025HouseSenate Amendments Analysis distributed
5/22/2025HouseSenate Amendments distributed
5/22/2025HouseSenate passage as amended reported
5/21/2025HouseRecord vote
5/21/2025SenatePassed
5/21/2025SenateRead 3rd time
5/21/2025SenateRecord vote
5/21/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
5/21/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
5/21/2025SenatePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/21/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
5/21/2025SenateAmended
5/21/2025SenateAmendment(s) offered (FA1 Bettencourt)
5/21/2025SenateRead 2nd time
5/21/2025SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
5/21/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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