Relating to operation by certain nonprofit organizations of certain regional health care programs for employees of small employers, the official text

H.B. No. 2655

AN ACT

relating to operation by certain nonprofit organizations of certain

regional health care programs for employees of small employers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 75.051, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) A community-based nonprofit organization may establish

or participate in a regional health care program under this

subchapter without the participation of the commissioners court of

a county if the program is a premium assistance program not offering

health care services or health care benefits.

SECTION 2. Section 75.052(a), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) A regional health care program may be operated subject

to the direct governance of the commissioners courts of the

participating counties or, for a program operating under Section

75.051(c), a nonprofit organization. A local health care program

may be operated subject to the direct governance of the

commissioners court of the participating county. A regional or

local health care program may be operated by a joint council,

tax-exempt nonprofit entity, or other entity that:

(1) operates the program under a contract with the

commissioners court or courts, as applicable; [or]

(2) is an entity in which the county or counties

participate or that is established or designated by the

commissioners court or courts, as applicable, to operate the

program; or

(3) for a program operating under Section 75.051(c),

is a participating nonprofit organization.

SECTION 3. Section 75.101, Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 75.101. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED; PROGRAM

OBJECTIVES. In developing a regional or local health care program,

a governing body may provide health care services or benefits as

described by this subchapter or may develop another type of program

to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. A regional or local

health care program must be developed, to the extent practicable,

to:

(1) reduce the number of individuals without health

benefit plan coverage within the boundaries of the participating

county or counties or, for a program operating under Section

75.051(c), in a county in which a participating nonprofit

organization operates;

(2) address rising health care costs and reduce the

cost of health care services or health benefit plan coverage for

small employers and their employees within the boundaries of the

participating county or counties or, for a program operating under

Section 75.051(c), in a county in which a participating nonprofit

organization operates;

(3) promote preventive care and reduce the incidence

of preventable health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer,

and diabetes and low birth weight in infants;

(4) promote efficient and collaborative delivery of

health care services;

(5) serve as a model for the innovative use of health

information technology to promote efficient delivery of health care

services, reduce health care costs, and improve the health of the

community; and

(6) provide fair payment rates for health care

providers.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2655 was passed by the House on May

16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 0, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2655 was passed by the Senate on May

28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor