The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
A boost in public school spending, school vouchers, and money for water systems are other highlights of the state budget, which was bolstered by a $24 billion surplus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
Critics say House Bill 229, which has gone to the governor, discriminates against trans people, but the full effect remains to be seen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/050ac76f3fad0b40e7f8635966972af1/Trans%20Rights%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2007.jpg)
House Bill 3006 would have required the installation of climate control in state prison by 2032. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/19/PrisonFan.jpg)
House Bill 186, approved by the lower chamber in May, never received a vote in the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c00eed6d9f45b6e1ebacbb76d9df1920/0127%20School%20Choice%20Lufkin%20CO%20TT%2020.jpg)
Proponents of SB 2880 have singled out Rep. Ken King, House State Affairs committee chair, for letting the bill languish. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/faf28ae00aa423285e699a85348cad82/0102%20Mifepristone%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Many trans Texans have changed the sex listed on their birth certificate, driver’s licenses and other documents. They say their identities will be invalidated under bill headed to governor's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f40d861f46c441f703505912812b1ea/0331%20SATX%20Trans%20Rally%20BY%20TT%2020.jpg)
House Bill 46, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval, would include more patients with chronic pain and allow for prescribed vaporized and aerosol products. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08343084947074a87e1fea279221bb1e/Medical%20Marijuana%20JV%20TT%2019.jpg)
The House made changes to the proposal that leave open ways for victims to be compensated beyond medical bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7f4d2ec20806f2f13e710774c7b7659/Seton%20Trauma%20Center%20LS%20TT%2004.jpg)
While state leaders say growers can still produce industrial hemp, farmers say they will quit growing the plant altogether under a total THC ban. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/290b240eff650fc8fd1509566b6cc1bb/0523%20THC%20Farmers%20AR%2023.jpg)
The governor has not addressed whether he supports the ban, as hemp industry leaders have urged him to veto Senate Bill 3. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/69e6a56a673db64cc310dc904ea4efd9/0522%20THC%20LW%20TT%2010.jpg)
Instead of waiting for the state to send them one, parents would be able to print out vaccine exemption forms at home if they want to skip school-required shots. Critics believe the bill would increase infections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6b77e3ce69c4a5689c623aa5396b437/TCH%20Vaccine%20Dev%20JR%20TT%2028.jpg)
Many low-income families would see cuts in health care and food benefits. The state hopes for a big reimbursement for border security spending. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/613c3a98be83dc332eaf054d619b01a3/Quitaque%20SNAP%20CR%20TT%2018.jpg)
A bill that would make it illegal to sell THC products could soon head over to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. For a cannabis store employee, lawmakers don't know enough about the industry they're trying to shut down. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c32c121f74d0179113534f95f40e3bf4/0522%20THC%20LW%20TT%2015.JPG)
The bill also contains a controversial provision that says it cannot be challenged in state court before it is enforced. It goes now to the House for a full vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d1a0ff6a64783a4c034c238e9b33bbc/Mifepristone%20REUTERS.jpg)
The ban aims to remove products — made legal through a 2019 loophole — that provide a similar high to marijuana and are easily accessible to the general public. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/59518be72f8c9d69b63ad67c990dc971/0209%20Delta%208%20Products%20SF%2038.jpg)
The bill, which is poised to become law, creates up to a $250,000 fine for medical professionals who change a patients’ listed sex outside of certain exemptions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb5459a21fa52b35006487384b67b2fa/0219%20DEI%20MC%20TT%2003.jpg)
Some hemp retailers are looking at other states, while others say they are ready to take Texas to court over a THC ban. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0cd950c9d4bd584817f05773f5825f56/1101%20CBD%20Vending%20AS%20TT%2005.jpg)
Fear of babies contracting the contagious and potentially deadly virus has spurred the surge in vaccinations amid Texas’ historic measles outbreak. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5a558bfc5507518b87c8888027a63f/Lubbock%20Measles%20Vaccine%20REUTERS.JPG)
Many of the patients are being treated in Lubbock, a medical hub for the South Plains where the outbreak originated. Full Story
![Kelly Johnson hold her six-week-old son, John, as seen Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Lubbock. “Normal things that are hard [in postpartum], are hard,” Johnson says, “but been having that plus keeping an eye out on a measles outbreak.”](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/URU0s5SYuUzlKPR3CYUInbQOqnI=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ccd4cfbf039229af889cd7031bb70f6c/0409%20Measles%20New%20Parents%20AR%20TT%2009.jpg)
The bill does not expand abortion access, but further explains when a doctor can intervene to save a pregnant patient’s life. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5dfd304582adc362ed30daabf44d340f/Alamo%20Reproductive%20Service%20AC%20TT%2025.jpg)