HB607 - Relating to prohibited discrimination by health care providers based on an individual's age, race, disability, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

  89R2523 SCF-D     By: Flores H.B. No. 607       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prohibited discrimination by health care providers   based on an individual's age, race, disability, immigration status,   sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 545, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 545.0206 to   read as follows:           Sec.   545.0206.     DISCRIMINATION BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BASED   ON GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION PROHIBITED. (a) In this section:                 (1)     "Disability"   has the meaning assigned by Section   21.002, Labor Code.                 (2)     "Gender identity or expression" means having or   being perceived as having a gender-related identity, appearance,   expression, or behavior, regardless of whether that identity,   appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly   associated with the individual's actual or perceived sex.           (b)     A health care provider may not refuse to provide health   care services to a patient or enter into a contract for the   provision of health care services to a patient solely because of a   patient's age, race, disability, immigration status, sex, sexual   orientation, or gender identity or expression.           (c)     A health care provider that violates this section is not   eligible to receive money from this state for services provided to   patients, including through the medical assistance program under   Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or through the child health plan   program under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code.          SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act   a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a   federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,   the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or   authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the   waiver or authorization is granted.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.