HB 2586
AN ACT relating to minimum standards for pregnancy resource centers.
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Establishes minimum standards for pregnancy resource centers in Texas, requiring them to have at least one licensed obstetrician present when providing services and mandating health and safety protocols equivalent to those for ambulatory surgical centers. These centers, which provide pregnancy counseling without performing abortions or offering comprehensive birth control, must now comply with new regulations designed to protect patient health. Centers that fail to meet these standards may face disciplinary action from state regulatory agencies.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to minimum standards for pregnancy resource centers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 174 to read as follows: CHAPTER 174. PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS Sec. 174.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "pregnancy resource center" means an organization, including a pregnancy counseling organization, crisis pregnancy center, pregnancy care center, and pregnancy support center, that for a fee or free of charge provides pregnancy counseling or information but: (1) does not perform abortions or make referrals to an (2) does not provide or make referrals for comprehensive birth control services; (3) is not licensed or certified by this state or the federal government to provide medical or health care services; and (4) is not required to contract with a physician to provide or directly supervise all health care services provided by Sec. 174.002. MINIMUM STANDARDS. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe minimum standards for (b) The minimum standards must: (1) protect the health and safety of a patient of a (2) contain provisions equivalent to the requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter 171, but applicable to the provision of (3) contain provisions equivalent to the minimum standards for ambulatory surgical centers adopted under Section (c) Pregnancy resource centers must have present when providing services to a patient at least one licensed obstetrician (d) This section does not authorize the executive (1) establish the qualifications of a licensed health (2) allow a person to provide medical or health care services who is not authorized to provide those services under (e) A pregnancy resource center or health care practitioner that violates this section is subject to disciplinary action by the state agency that regulates the center or practitioner as if the center or practitioner had violated the applicable licensing law. SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 174, Health and Safety SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to minimum standards for pregnancy resource centers.
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