A new bill authored by State Rep. Jones in the Texas House seeks to mandate health benefit coverage for hair prostheses for breast cancer patients, aiming to enhance patient support and care, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill, introduced as HB 233 during the 89(1) legislative session on Wednesday, July 30, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates health benefit plan coverage for hair prostheses for breast cancer patients. Coverage applies to plans under various chapters, including those for standard health benefits, Medicaid, and child health plans. A hair prosthesis must be covered if deemed appropriate by the patient’s physician, along with repair or replacement unless due to misuse or loss. The benefit amount must be at least $100, and no additional premium can be charged for this coverage, although standard deductibles and copayments may apply. The provisions take effect for plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, with the overall act effective Sept. 1, 2025.
Jolanda Jones, the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on Juvenile Justice, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, a member of the House Committee on Public Health, and a member of the House Committee on Redistricting.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5525 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to parole guidelines and procedures for inmates convicted of an offense committed when younger than 18 years of age |
| HB 4493 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the duty of a peace officer to use a standardized lethality assessment protocol when investigating a family violence allegation or responding to a disturbance call that may involve family violence; providing training requirements for peace officers and reporting requirements for the Department of Public Safety |
| HB 4492 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the failure to pay child support by certain biological fathers; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 3571 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to requirements for a judicial action in which a candidate’s eligibility is in issue |
| HB 3198 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential tenancies |
| HB 2281 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to automatic voter registration on interaction with a voter registration agency |
| HB 1765 | 01/07/2025 | Relating to the issuance of an arrest warrant or search warrant authorizing the use of a no-knock entry by a peace officer |
| HB 1571 | 12/11/2024 | Relating to access to, disclosure of, and notification of protective order registry information, judicial sanctions regarding improper disclosure of or misleading information, and a study on the registry |
| HB 1455 | 11/22/2024 | Relating to the collection and reporting of information regarding mental health jail diversion |
| HB 936 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the withdrawal or revocation of an athletic scholarship by a public institution of higher education on the basis of a student athlete’s injury, illness, or disability |
| HB 899 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the administration of medication to certain persons in the custody of a sheriff |
| HB 867 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the dismissal of a criminal case by the attorney representing the state |
| HB 824 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the inclusion of civics instruction in public school government curriculum requirements for high school students |
| HB 816 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the licensing and regulation of youth sports programs; providing civil and administrative penalties; authorizing fees |
| HB 786 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to justice court security in certain counties |
| HB 765 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to liability insurance certain peace officers obtain for damages resulting from the officers’ misconduct |
| HB 716 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the offense of failure to comply with an order from a fire marshal and the authority of certain county peace officers to issue citations for certain violations; changing a criminal penalty |
| HB 692 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a notification requirement if a public school, including an open-enrollment charter school, does not have a nurse assigned to the school during all instructional hours |
| HB 605 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers |
| HB 588 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the administration of medication to certain persons in the custody of a sheriff |
| HB 557 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by contempt and the accrual of interest on certain child support arrearages |
| HB 463 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to certain pretrial hearings for defendants charged with certain controlled substance offenses and the expunction of all records and files related to arrests for certain controlled substance offenses |
| HB 413 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial |
