HB 1652
bill letting parents choose any cancer treatment for a child
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to parental rights regarding cancer treatment for children.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Experimental treatment, or none at all, notwithstanding any other law.
The bill lets a parent of a child diagnosed with cancer choose any available cancer treatment for the child, including an experimental one, or choose no cancer treatment at all, notwithstanding any other law. It bars health care providers, health insurers, and government agencies, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, from penalizing a parent for that choice, and it applies to natural parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, guardians, and other legal custodians. It also renumbers the existing rule that requires facilities to warn parents about fertility risks from chemotherapy or radiation, and the changes take effect immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise on September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Public Health subcommittee on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health on Apr 3, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1652 · 2024-12-18
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to parental rights regarding cancer treatment for children.
WHAT IT DOES
Experimental treatment, or none at all, notwithstanding any other law.
The bill lets a parent of a child diagnosed with cancer choose any available cancer treatment for the child, including an experimental one, or choose no cancer treatment at all, notwithstanding any other law. It bars health care providers, health insurers, and government agencies, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, from penalizing a parent for that choice, and it applies to natural parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, guardians, and other legal custodians. It also renumbers the existing rule that requires facilities to warn parents about fertility risks from chemotherapy or radiation, and the changes take effect immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise on September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to s/c on Dis Prev & Women's & Children's Health by Speaker
- Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
- Considered by s/c in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
- Left pending in subcommittee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$113,206 raised in 4 of 4 reports since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure. Partial total. Regular reports do not cover Jul 9, 2025 to Aug 15, 2025, Aug 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2025.
$220,212 spent since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$54,238 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
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 18, 2024
04/03/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Family--Parent & Child
Health Care Providers
Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions
Hospitals
Minors--Health & Safety
CANCER
PARENTAL RIGHTS
Text
The text as introduced · 410 words
89R5862 KRM-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 1652 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to parental rights regarding cancer treatment for children. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter X, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 819 (H.B. 1649), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER X. [ INFORMATION REGARDING RISK OF IMPAIRED FERTILITY FROM ] CANCER TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN SECTION 2. Subchapter X, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 819 (H.B. 1649), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended by adding Sections 161.6811 and 161.682 to read as follows: Sec. 161.6811. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Child" means a person younger than 18 years of age who: (A) is not married; or (B) has not had the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code. (2) "Parent" means a natural parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, or other legal custodian of a child. Sec. 161.682. RIGHT TO ELECT CANCER TREATMENT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a parent of a child who has been diagnosed with cancer may elect for the child: (1) to receive any available cancer treatment, including an experimental treatment; or (2) not to receive any cancer treatment. (b) A health care provider, health benefit plan issuer, or governmental entity, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, may not penalize a parent for an election authorized under Subsection (a). SECTION 3. Section 161.681, Health and Safety Code, is redesignated as Section 161.683, Health and Safety Code, and amended to read as follows: Sec. 161.683 [ 161.681 ]. NOTICE FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION. (a) A health care facility at which a child will begin receiving chemotherapy or radiation that may directly or indirectly cause impaired fertility must, before the treatment begins, notify the child's parents [ or legal guardians ] of the risk of impaired fertility from treatment. (b) The department shall develop and make available a written notice for a health care facility to use for purposes of this section. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.