Maternal & Child Health
2019 Legislative Session bills that are relevant to maternal and child health research taking place at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living can be viewed below.
Infant Feeding | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2017) |
| SB 45 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini |
FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing |
Details the provision of a private place in the Capitol, other than a bathroom, where a woman may nurse or express milk. Requires that public employers (contractors) do the same. |
Similar to SB 279 (2017). Failed to pass, did not receive committee hearing. |
| HB 243 | State Rep. Jessica Farrar |
FAILED TO PASS - passed committee but did not receive House vote |
Defines the right to breastfeed to exist in any place where the mother and child is otherwise allowed or authorized. Allows civil suit if the right to breastfeed is restricted. Requires state agencies to develop "mother-friendly" policies, and the comptroller to develop and distribute materials informing mothers of their right to breastfeed. | Similar to HB 742 (2017), HB 232 (2015) and HB 1706 (2013); Failed, passed out of committee but did not receive a House vote. |
| HB 541 | State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor; effective 9/1/19 |
Adds the right to express breast milk (in addition to the right to breastfeed) in any place where the mother and child is otherwise allowed or authorized. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 1041 | State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle |
FAILED TO PASS - passed committee but did not receive House vote |
Requires employers to provide break time and a place (other than a bathroom) where an employee can express breast milk. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
Maternal Health Care Services | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2017) |
| HB 253 | State Rep. Jessica Farrar | PASSED - Signed by the Governor; effective 9/1/19 | Creates a 5-year plan to improve access to postpartum screening, referral, treatment and support for postpartum depression. Also provides for increasing public awareness of postpartum depression. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 1879 | State Rep. Sarah Davis | FAILED TO PASS - passed committee but did not receive House vote | Requires that women who otherwise qualify for Healthy Texas Women program be enrolled. Women who are enrolled in HTW, eligible for CHIP, and who become pregnant will automatically be enrolled in CHIP. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 2028 | State Rep. Eric Johnson | FAILED TO PASS - passed committee but did not receive House vote |
Requires that women who are enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program receive information about participating healthcare providers in their area. |
Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 2029 | State Rep. Eric Johnson | FAILED TO PASS - left pending in committee | Requires that a woman who has been on CHIP be automatically enrolled in the Texas Healthy Women program after delivery. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 147 | State Sen. Jose Rodriguez | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing | Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: HB 241, SB 308, HB 411, HB 610, HB 744 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 241 | State Rep. Jessica Cristina Farrar | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing | Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: SB 147, SB 308, HB 411, HB 610, HB 744 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 308 | State Sen. Kirk Watson | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing | Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: SB 147, HB 241, HB 411, HB 610, HB 744 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 411 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing |
Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: SB 147, HB 241, SB 308, HB 610, HB 744 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 610 | State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing | Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: SB 147, HB 241, SB 308, HB 411, HB 744 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 744 | State Rep. Toni Rose | FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing | Medicaid eligible women who suffer a miscarriage would be covered for up to 12 months. Companion Bills: SB 147, HB 241, SB 308, HB 411, HB 610 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
Other Maternal & Child Health Related Bills | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2017) |
| HB 1111 | State Rep. Sarah Davis |
FAILED TO PASS - passed committee but did not receive Senate vote |
Provides for a pilot study to assess the costs and benefits of providing prenatal and postpartum care via telehealth and telemedicine services. Also creates a Pregnancy Medical Home Pilot Program to study the efficacy of this care model. Creates a dedicated account for Newborn Screening funds. |
Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 436 | State Sen. Jane Nelson |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor; effective 6/7/19 |
Adds opioid use disorder maternal and newborn health initiatives to the Health and Safety Code. Requires improved screening, continuity of care, access to care, prevention for women and newborns with opioid use disorder. Companion Bill HB 1292 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 1292 | State Rep. Four Price |
FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing |
Adds opioid use disorder maternal and newborn health initiatives to the Health and Safety Code. Requires improved screening, continuity of care, access to care, prevention for women and newborns with opioid use disorder. Companion Bill SB 436 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 747 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor; effective 9/1/19 |
Ensures that DSHS publicly posts and updates the costs of required newborn screenings. Prohibits health insurance plans from limiting reimbursement for newborn tests. Companion Bill HB 2582 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 2582 | State Rep. Eddie Lucio III |
FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing |
Ensures that DSHS publicly posts and updates the costs of required newborn screenings. Prohibits health insurance plans from limiting reimbursement for newborn tests. Companion Bill SB 747 | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 750 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor; effective 6/10/19 |
Requires the Texas Education Code to be updated to include best practice guidelines for maternal and neonatal medical residency programs, and to improve care for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their newborn children. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| SB 748 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst |
PASSED - Signed by Governor; effective 9/1/19 |
Requires the HHS Commission to establish fees for newborn testing, which cover costs. Creates and protects a designated account for newborn screening funds. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 1428 | State Rep. Bobby Guerra |
FAILED TO PASS - did not receive committee hearing |
Creates a grant program to fund a pilot of TexasAIM (Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health) in a rural/underserved area of the state. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 405 | State Rep. Ina Minjarez |
PASSED - Signed by Governor; effective 9/1/19 |
Designates June as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Awareness Month. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
| HB 2832 | State Rep. Dade Phelan | FAILED TO PASS - left pending in committee | Amends Section 265.101 of the Family Code to provide a framework for referring pregnant women to partner organizations. | Topic not tracked by the Michael & Susan Dell Center during the previous session |
Maternal & Child Health Resources
- World Health Organization recommendations on exclusive breastfeeding for optimal growth, development and health of infants; e-library from WHO including evidence and guidelines
- TexasMotherFriendly.org; website run by the Texas Department of State Health Services with extensive information and resources about worksite lactation policies. The Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program seeks to reduce barriers to breastfeeding by increasing the proportion of employers who have worksite lactation support policies and programs.
- Being a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite; 2016 infographic from the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program
- Exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity; summary and library of references from the World Health Organization.
- Healthy Texas Babies; webpage with information on workplace breastfeeding, including links to best practices, from the Texas Department of State Health Services
- Breastfeeding: Why It Matters; webpage run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with information about breastfeeding including an overview, recommendations, special circumstances, data, and resources
- Maternal and Child Health Overview; webpage run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with information about global Maternal and Child Health
- Reproductive Health: Maternal and Infant Health Overview; webpage run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with information about reproductive health, maternal health, and infant health
