BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3339

By: Ward Johnson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that black women have higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity than any other demographic in Texas and that the Department of State Health Services conducts studies on maternal mortality across the state without having a specific study on maternal mortality in this demographic. H.B. 3339 seeks to understand specifically the cause of the high mortality rate among black women by requiring the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to jointly conduct a study to evaluate maternal mortality and morbidity among black women in Texas.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3339 requires the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to jointly conduct a study to evaluate maternal mortality and morbidity among black women in Texas. The bill requires MMMRC and DSHS, in conducting the study, to do the following:

· compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates among black women in Texas to maternal mortality and morbidity rates among each other race and ethnicity;

· compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates among black women in Texas in relation to their socioeconomic status and education level;

· assess the impact of social determinants of health, including an evaluation of data on pregnancy-related deaths, pregnancy-related complications almost resulting in death, and morbidities, to identify any correlation in that data to women who are uninsured, receive health care coverage under Medicaid, or receive health care coverage through a private health benefit plan issuer;

· evaluate the impact of cardiac health conditions, hemorrhage, obesity, stress-related health conditions, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and other hypertensive disorders on maternal mortality and morbidity; and

· assess the effect on maternal mortality and morbidity among black women of implicit biases held by health care providers against black individuals.

H.B. 3339 requires MMMRC and DSHS, based on the results of the study, to develop recommendations to address disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity among black women, including recommendations on the following:

· strategies to reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity;

· patient outreach and education;

· health care provider training, including a recommendation on the potential benefit of training on cultural competency and implicit biases against black individuals;

· best practices identified as successful in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity; and

· the implementation in Texas of programs operating in other states that have reduced maternal mortality and morbidity rates.

The bill requires MMMRC and DSHS, not later than September 1, 2026, to prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate legislative standing committees a written report summarizing the results of the study, including those recommendations. The bill authorizes the report to be consolidated with the requisite biennial report on MMMRC's findings. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2026.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.