Bill Text: TX HB181 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a requirement that public institutions of higher education provide applicants with certain information regarding eligibility for public health programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB181 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB181-Introduced.html
| 89R2860 MM-D | ||
| By: Lalani | H.B. No. 181 | |
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| relating to a requirement that public institutions of higher | ||
| education provide applicants with certain information regarding | ||
| eligibility for public health programs. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 51.9199 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 51.9199. REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH | ||
| PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. (a) In this section, "institution of higher | ||
| education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
| (b) An institution of higher education shall distribute to | ||
| each applicant for admission as an entering freshman or | ||
| undergraduate transfer student information designed to educate and | ||
| inform the applicant about eligibility requirements for public | ||
| health benefits coverage, including coverage under Medicaid and the | ||
| child health plan program. The information must: | ||
| (1) clearly explain the eligibility requirements for | ||
| the applicable public health programs; | ||
| (2) address the most common health care needs of the | ||
| student population in relation to the public health benefits that | ||
| may be available to the applicant under the public health programs; | ||
| (3) be tailored specifically to the student population | ||
| who may complete the necessary forms independently; and | ||
| (4) include the enrollment procedures for the public | ||
| health programs, including a link to the Health and Human Services | ||
| Commission's Internet website that displays that enrollment | ||
| information. | ||
| (c) To support the provision of information under | ||
| Subsection (b), the Health and Human Services Commission shall | ||
| develop informational material about the eligibility requirements | ||
| for public health benefits coverage, including coverage under | ||
| Medicaid and the child health plan program, that is: | ||
| (1) up to date; and | ||
| (2) clear and easy to understand. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 51.9199, Education Code, as added by | ||
| this Act, applies beginning with the 2025 fall semester. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
