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Gavel to Gavel

By Helen Carrillo posted Feb 18,2019 10:45 AM

  
(Feb 15, 2019) This week, the Texas Legislature began considering two major bills relating to Governor Abbott’s emergency items: Senate Bill 10 and Senate Bill 2. On Tuesday, February 12, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee considered Senate Bill 10, which creates the Texas Mental Health Care Consortium. Once created, the Mental Health Care Consortium will leverage the expertise of health-related institutions to bolster mental health options for Texas children and adolescents. The Committee discussed issues relating to the reliance on medicine as a primary treatment of mental illness and the stigma surrounding the connection between mental health patients and gun violence. SB 10 was voted favorably by the committee as substituted. The full text of SB 10 can be accessed here.
 
Additionally, the new Texas Property Tax Committee passed a substitute to Senate Bill 2, relating to property tax reform. SB 2 requires an election when local governments want to collect an additional 2.5% or more in tax revenues from existing properties. The Committee’s decision arrived just two days after a heated debate with county and local officials, who claim a lower election threshold would stifle their budget growth. The full text of SB 2 can be accessed here
 
Meanwhile, the election to fill District 125, which covers parts of San Antonio, was held on February 12. Justin Rodriguez vacated this seat upon receiving a Bexar County commissioner’s seat. The election resulted in a run-off between Fred Rangel (R) and Ray Lopez (D). Fred Rangel, endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott, received 37.96% of the vote, and Ray Lopez received 19.41%. The date for this run-off is to be determined by the Governor. Additionally, the run-off for District 145 to fill State Senator Carol Alvarado’s seat has been set for March 5, 2019. The run-off is between Christina Morales (D), who received 35.78%, and Melissa Noriega (D), who received 31.12%.

TAHC&H Bill Tracking Report 
Bill tracking reflects bills filed and tracked through noon on Friday, February 15, 2019

 

BILL

AUTHOR

RELATING TO

LAST ACTION

DATE

SB    1

Nelson, Jane

General Appropriations Bill.

Meeting cancelled for 02/08/19 - Senate Finance

2/6/19

SB  732

Hughes, Bryan

Relating to the regulation of the practice of physical therapy.

Filed

2/8/19

SB  744

Perry, Charles

Relating to the relationship between physicians or health care providers and health maintenance organizations or preferred provider benefit plans.

Filed

2/11/19

HB    1

Zerwas, John

General Appropriations Bill.

Introduced and referred to committee on House Appropriations

2/11/19

HB   29

Minjarez, Ina

Relating to the regulation of the practice of physical therapy.

Introduced and referred to committee on House Public Health

2/11/19

HB 1584

Thompson, Senfronia

Relating to health benefit plan coverage of prescription drugs for stage-four advanced, metastatic cancer.

Filed

2/11/19

HB 1585

Gonzalez, Mary

Relating to a study on interest or other waiting lists maintained for certain Medicaid programs providing services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Filed

2/11/19

HB   72

White, James

Relating to the continuation of Medicaid benefits provided to certain children adopted from the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Introduced and referred to committee on House Human Services

2/12/19

HB   80

Ortega, Lina

Relating to a study and report regarding shortages in certain health professions.

Introduced and referred to committee on House Higher Education

2/12/19

HB 1645

Beckley, Michelle (F)

Relating to health benefit plan coverage of preexisting conditions.

Filed

2/12/19

HJR  40

Israel, Celia

Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the state to expand eligibility for Medicaid to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Introduced and referred to committee on House Appropriations

2/12/19

SB  791

Buckingham, Dawn

Relating to the accreditation of and a recipient's enrollment in a Medicaid managed care plan.

Filed

2/12/19

HB  194

Reynolds, Ron

Relating to the minimum wage.

Introduced and referred to committee on House International Relations/Economic Dev

2/13/19

HB 1718

Munoz, Sergio

Relating to participation in the health care market by managed care plan enrollees.

Filed

2/13/19

HB 1738

Guillen, Ryan

Relating to telehealth and home telemonitoring services, including the provision of those services under Medicaid.

Filed

2/13/19

SB  825

Watson, Kirk

Relating to health benefit plan coverage of preexisting conditions and the guaranteed issue of certain health benefit plans.

Filed

2/13/19

HB 1782

Cortez, Philip

Relating to a plan to increase the use of telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in this state.

Filed

2/14/19

SB  420

Buckingham, Dawn

Relating to dispenser requirements for refilling prescriptions for certain controlled substances.

Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services

2/14/19

SB  444

Perry, Charles

Relating to discrimination by a state agency against an applicant for or holder of an occupational license.

Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Business and Commerce

2/14/19

SB  524

Johnson, Nathan (F)

Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services

2/14/19

SJR  34

Johnson, Nathan (F)

Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the state to expand eligibility for Medicaid to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services

2/14/19

 
 
 

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