Bill > HB4147

This bill amends the Texas Health and Safety Code to establish new protocols for opt-out screening tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The bill defines a "screening test" as a rapid analytical laboratory procedure to determine the need for further diagnostic evaluation of an infection. Under the new provisions, when a healthcare provider collects a blood sample during a medical screening for an STD, they must inform the patient about a screening test and obtain consent, with the test automatically being performed unless the patient specifically opts out. If a patient receives a positive screening test result, the healthcare provider must provide information about available healthcare, education, prevention, and social support services. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is required to adopt rules for implementing this process, considering the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for testing adults and adolescents. The bill sets January 1, 2026, as the deadline for implementing these new requirements, giving healthcare providers and the commission time to prepare. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that implementation is contingent on specific funding being appropriated, with a sunset date of September 1, 2029, for any suspended mandatory provisions.