A new bill authored by State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons in the Texas House seeks to improve the protection of sensitive information concerning terrorism prevention and infrastructure security, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Health category, introduced as HB 132 during the 89(1) legislative session on Friday, July 18, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the composition of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends multiple sections of the Texas Government Code to enhance the confidentiality of information related to preventing, detecting, or investigating acts of terrorism or hostile actions by foreign adversaries of the United States. The bill makes confidential any information that pertains to emergency response staffing requirements, tactical plans, and communication numbers; risk or vulnerability assessments of infrastructure; encryption or security codes of public communication systems; and technical details of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. It also protects data involved in reports to U.S. agencies that require confidentiality to ensure compliance with federal statutes or regulations, facilitate state-federal information sharing, or secure federal funding. The act takes effect immediately with a two-thirds majority vote; otherwise, it becomes effective Sept. 1, 2025.
Lauren Ashley Simmons, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Article III and a member of the House Committee on Public Health.
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 5241 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to an action to remedy certain conditions affecting safety or habitability of certain residential rental property; providing a civil penalty |
| HB 107 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the sickle cell disease registry |
| HB 4704 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to a public school paid parental leave policy, an allotment under the Foundation School Program for the cost of providing paid parental leave under that policy, and the eligibility of certain children for free prekindergarten programs |
| HB 3554 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to establishment of the Texas Rare Disease Advisory Council |
| HB 3268 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the denial or reduction of an award otherwise payable under the Crime Victims’ Compensation Act |
| HB 3184 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to authorization for a county or municipality to establish a local minimum wage |
| HB 3183 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Texas African American Heritage Commission |
| HB 3155 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the disclosure of fees by certain landlords in residential rental application transactions |
| HB 3002 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to requiring debt collectors to provide certain disclosures to consumers |
| HB 2925 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to a grant program for hospitals to assist with certain costs incurred by families of chronically ill children receiving hospital care |
| HB 2924 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to Medicaid reimbursement for certain costs incurred while a chronically ill Medicaid recipient who is a child receives hospital care |
| HB 2909 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the expunction of records in residential eviction suits |
| HB 2908 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to a tenant’s receipt of a security deposit refund |
| HB 2907 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the use by a landlord or landlord’s manager or agent of a tenant’s name or likeness for a commercial purpose |
| HB 2906 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the civil liability of towing companies, booting companies, and parking facility owners for certain violations |
| HB 2905 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to rental application fees; providing an administrative penalty |
| HB 2904 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to restrictions on, and required disclosures relating to, rent increases for residential and manufactured home tenancies |
| HB 2903 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to a landlord’s duty to acknowledge receipt of a notice to repair or remedy a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of a tenant |
| HB 2901 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the maximum amount of a security deposit for a residential lease |
| HB 2900 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to a landlord’s duty to provide and maintain in good operating condition heating and air conditioning equipment in an apartment unit |
| HB 2801 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the definition of an epinephrine delivery device and the use of those devices in public and private schools |
| HB 2792 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to a study on capital punishment in this state and to a moratorium on executions |
| HB 2604 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain individuals under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
| HB 2477 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to coverage for doula services under certain group benefit plans for governmental employees and retirees |
| HB 2476 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to a grant program for living expenses for certain students enrolled at public institutions of higher education |
| HB 2475 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to medical education coursework in cultural competence and implicit bias |
| HB 2474 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to a study regarding the education and retention of obstetricians and gynecologists in this state |
| HB 2473 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to emergency insurance premium relief programs for certain residential property insurance policies |
| HB 2472 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the payment of gratuities to tipped employees; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 2471 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to security deposits collected by a municipal utility district |
| HB 2142 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to a study by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs on the feasibility of using certain models to address homelessness in this state |
| HB 2141 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the applicability of certain criminal offenses to the provision of gender-affirming care |
| HB 2140 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the composition of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee |
| HB 2139 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to voting by a voter unable to enter a polling place |
| HB 2138 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to preventing discrimination in foster care |
| HB 1989 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the confidentiality and reporting of certain maternal mortality information to the Department of State Health Services, to an exception to certain reporting requirements for health care providers reviewing certain information on maternal mortality and morbidity, to the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee members, and to a work group establishing a maternal mortality and morbidity data registry |
| HB 1884 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the sickle cell disease registry |
| HB 1883 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to coverage of medically necessary health care and treatment under the state employees group benefits program |
| HB 1882 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the authority of a business to establish certain employee-related groups or practices |
| HB 1881 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to a study regarding establishing a public medical school as a professional school of Texas Southern University |
| HB 1880 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to requiring certain employers to provide paid sick leave to employees; providing administrative penalties |
| HB 1879 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to a franchise tax credit for entities that establish a grocery store or healthy corner store in a food desert |
| HB 1878 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the misuse of money received for an open-enrollment charter school to support an out-of-state school |
| HB 1877 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the receipt of financial benefits by the superintendent of a school district for certain services performed by the superintendent |
| HB 1077 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the right of public employees to collectively bargain with governmental entities |
