Monitoring the Session

HB 1639

Bill orders a study of cancer in female firefighters

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106
Why it's charged
Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

…“and using registry information, shall conduct a study on the”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only action is a study and a report due later, with any policy action left for a future Legislature. The caption honestly says it is a study.

Study, task force, commission, report

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Just a study. Report due September 1, 2026. Law expires in 2027.

The bill orders the state health department to work with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection on a study of cancer in female firefighters. It uses the state cancer registry to compare their cancer rates, especially ovarian and breast cancer, with rates among other Texas women. The department must send a report with any recommendations to the Legislature and post it online by September 1, 2026, and the law expires in 2027.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Jared Patterson (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Carol Alvarado (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1639 · 2024-12-16

SOLD BY

Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Rep. Nicole CollierDHouse 95

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.

WHAT IT DOES

Just a study. Report due September 1, 2026. Law expires in 2027.

The bill orders the state health department to work with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection on a study of cancer in female firefighters. It uses the state cancer registry to compare their cancer rates, especially ovarian and breast cancer, with rates among other Texas women. The department must send a report with any recommendations to the Legislature and post it online by September 1, 2026, and the law expires in 2027.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

…“and using registry information, shall conduct a study on the”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only action is a study and a report due later, with any policy action left for a future Legislature. The caption honestly says it is a study.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($215,970)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version E · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1639, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($215,970) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($215,970)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Public Health
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote reconsidered in committee
  12. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  13. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  14. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  15. Committee report distributed
  16. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  17. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  18. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  19. Read 2nd time
  20. Passed to engrossment
  21. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#1573
  25. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Health & Human Services
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Testimony taken in committee
  33. Left pending in committee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Vote taken in committee
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  38. Committee report printed and distributed
  39. Co-sponsor authorized
  40. Placed on intent calendar
  41. Rules suspended-Intent Calendar
  42. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  43. Vote recorded in Journal
  44. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  45. Vote recorded in Journal
  46. Three day rule suspended
  47. Record vote
  48. Read 3rd time
  49. Passed
  50. Record vote
  51. Senate passage reported
  52. Reported enrolled
  53. Signed in the House
  54. Signed in the Senate
  55. Sent to the Governor
  56. Signed by the Governor
  57. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 141 yea · 7 nay

Senate · 28 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 7, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jared Patterson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$133KTexas Sands PAC$85KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$58K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$132,750.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

Texas Sands PAC$84,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$57,950.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

Votes4

Senate May 20, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 20, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Alvarado moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 1639 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 20, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Alvarado moved to suspend the regular order of business and Senate Rule 5.14 to take up for consideration HB 1639 at this time on its second reading: HB 1639, Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state. The motion prevailed. Senators Hall, Hughes, and Schwertner asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
7
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1573

HB 1639 (Cain, Cook, Cunningham, Harrison, Noble, Oliverson, and Vasut - no) (141 - 7 - 2) (Virdell requested to be recorded voting no after the deadline established by Rule 5, Section 52, of the House Rules.)

Shared roll motion

The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 1573): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 7 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses18
For
15
Against
0
On
3
Names

For

  • City of Houston1 registration
  • SAFE-D, the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Self; Laredo Fire Fighters Association1 registration
  • Self; Laredo firefighters1 registration
  • Self; Texas State Association Fire Fighters1 registration
  • Self; Texas State Association of Fire Fighters1 registration
  • Texas Fire Chiefs Association1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
  • Texas Women's Healthcare Coalition1 registration
  • Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition1 registration
  • TMPA1 registration

On

  • Department of State Health Services3 registrations
Sources

18 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($215,970)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version E · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1639, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($215,970) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($215,970)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 16, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:09 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6
Cosponsors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20 Tan ParkerRSenate 12

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Fire Fighters & Police--General

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

Interim Studies

Women

CANCER

FIRE PROTECTION, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

STATE HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 227 words

89R2640 MCF-D

By: Patterson
H.B. No. 1639

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female

firefighters in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this Act:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire

Protection.

(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health

Services.

(3) "Registry" means the cancer registry established

under Chapter 82, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The department, in collaboration with the commission

and using registry information, shall conduct a study on the

increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.

(c) In conducting the study, the department and commission

shall, using registry information and data collected from readily

available sources, compare cancer rates among female firefighters

in this state to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers

specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer.

(d) Not later than September 1, 2026:

(1) the department shall prepare and submit to the

legislature a written report containing the results of the study

and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and

(2) the department and commission shall make the

report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies'

and registry's respective Internet websites.

(e) This Act expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.