BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 713
89R2290 CMO-D	By: Howard; Johnson (Cook)
	Health & Human Services
	5/20/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Maternal and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) is a multidisciplinary committee tasked with developing recommendations to reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related death and maternal morbidity. The MMMRC analyzes maternal death cases to form their recommendations, which are then reported to the state legislature.

However, under current law, Texas MMMRC has to redact all the maternal mortality records before they are reviewed by the nurses analyzing the data for MMMRC. The redaction can take anywhere from 45 to 250 hours per case, causing significant delays in the preparation of the MMMRC report.

H.B. 713 provides a limited exception to healthcare providers, including nurses, who review maternal mortality and morbidity cases for MMMRC to review unredacted case materials.

H.B. 713 amends current law relating to an exception to certain reporting requirements for health care providers reviewing selected cases for the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 34.0085, as follows:

Sec. 34.0085. CASE INFORMATION EXCEPTED FROM PROFESSIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law and for purposes of Chapter 34 (Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee), a health care provider, including a nurse, who during the review of information relevant to a case selected for review under this chapter learns of conduct related to the provider's profession that is subject to a reporting requirement is exempt from that reporting requirement for the reviewed information.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.

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