Bill > HB2604

This bill expands Medicaid eligibility in Texas by requiring the state's Health and Human Services Commission to provide medical assistance to all individuals who qualify for federal matching funds under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The expansion will take effect on January 1, 2026, but is contingent upon voters approving a related constitutional amendment. The bill mandates that the commission adopt rules for implementing this expansion and requires an annual report to state leadership detailing the effects of the expanded eligibility, including impacts on the number of uninsured individuals, state and local health care costs, and hospital charity care expenses. The commission is not required to submit the first report until December 1, 2026, and if federal waivers or authorizations are needed for implementation, the agency can delay implementation until those are obtained. The expansion will apply to initial eligibility determinations and recertifications made on or after January 1, 2026, regardless of when an individual initially applied for assistance.

Budget and Finance

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2604