Monitoring the Session

HB 2488

bill allows workers’ comp hearings by videoconference

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4

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 conducting certain contested case hearings under the Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Good cause or both sides agree.

The bill lets the state workers' compensation division hold contested case hearings by videoconference instead of in person. It applies when the division finds good cause or when both sides agree, and it touches injured workers, employers, insurers and hearing officers in disputed comp claims. The commissioner must write rules for remote hearings, and the change covers hearings requested after the bill takes effect.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Keith Bell (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Carol Alvarado (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2488 · 2025-02-05

SOLD BY

Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4 Rep. Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Rep. Cole HefnerRHouse 5

+ 2 more authors, 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.

WHAT IT DOES

Good cause or both sides agree.

The bill lets the state workers' compensation division hold contested case hearings by videoconference instead of in person. It applies when the division finds good cause or when both sides agree, and it touches injured workers, employers, insurers and hearing officers in disputed comp claims. The commissioner must write rules for remote hearings, and the change covers hearings requested after the bill takes effect.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 22, 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

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  5. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  7. Left pending in subcommittee
  8. Recalled from subcommittee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Passed to engrossment
  18. Record vote RV#349
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#399
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Business & Commerce
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Testimony taken in committee
  30. Left pending in committee
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  34. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Placed on intent calendar
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  39. Vote recorded in Journal
  40. Three day rule suspended
  41. Record vote
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote
  45. Senate passage reported
  46. Reported enrolled
  47. Signed in the House
  48. Signed in the Senate
  49. Sent to the Governor
  50. Signed by the Governor
  51. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 145 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Keith Bell

Donors

Josh Stevens$50,000Carla Enna$50,000Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35K

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 31, 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.

Josh Stevens$50,000.00
Carla Enna$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

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 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 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: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

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 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 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: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Votes5

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
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.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
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.

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 2488 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 28, 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 to take up for consideration HB 2488 at this time on its second reading: HB 2488, Relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication. The motion prevailed. Senator Kolkhorst 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 Apr 23, 2025

Yea
145
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 399

HB 2488 was passed by (Record 399): 145 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 145 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 22, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
0
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 349

HB 2488 was passed to engrossment by (Record 349): 147 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses13
For
11
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • American property casualty insurance association1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • Fort Worth POA1 registration
  • Insurance Council of Texas1 registration
  • National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)1 registration
  • Self; Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Self; HPOU1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
  • Texas Mutual Insurance Company1 registration
  • Texas State Asssoc of Fire Fighters1 registration

On

  • Office of Injured Employee Counsel1 registration
  • Texas Dept. of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation1 registration
Sources

13 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 22, 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 Feb 5, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Lulu FloresDHouse 51 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Labor--Workers' Compensation

VIDEOCONFERENCING

WORKERS' COMPENSATION, COMMISSIONER OF (V91AZ)

Text

The text as introduced · 272 words

89R5435 RDS-F

By: Bell of Kaufman
H.B. No. 2488

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the

Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is

amended by adding Section 410.0055 to read as follows:

Sec. 410.0055. CONDUCTING CERTAIN CONTESTED CASE HEARINGS

BY REMOTE COMMUNICATION. (a) Notwithstanding Section 410.005(a),

the division may conduct a contested case hearing by

videoconference:

(1) on a determination by the division that good cause

exists for conducting the hearing in that manner; or

(2) on the mutual agreement of the parties.

(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the commissioner of workers' compensation shall adopt

rules to implement Section 410.0055, Labor Code, as added by this

Act.

SECTION 3. Section 410.0055, Labor Code, as added by this

Act, applies to a contested case hearing requested on or after the

effective date of this Act. A contested case hearing requested

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in

effect on the date the contested case hearing was requested, and the

former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

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.