HB 3126: Darby Bill Lets Small Districts Rejoin For An Uncapped Fee

Caption

relating to the election of certain school districts to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Left on September 1, 2022, with 500 or fewer employees? Come back, pay what the trustee says.

The bill lets small Texas school districts that left the state's group health plan for school employees on September 1, 2022 rejoin early instead of waiting the usual five years. It covers only districts with 500 or fewer employees, and they must send written notice to the plan's trustee by December 31, 2025 to rejoin starting September 1, 2026. Districts that rejoin pay an extra risk stabilization fee set by the trustee for the first plan year, must stay in the plan until September 1, 2031, and the special rule expires that same day.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Drew Darby (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3126 · 2025-02-20

SOLD BY

Rep. Drew DarbyRHouse 72

Rep. Stan LambertRHouse 71

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

+ 1 more author

ITEM

relating to the election of certain school districts to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees.

WHAT IT DOES

Left on September 1, 2022, with 500 or fewer employees? Come back, pay what the trustee says.

The bill lets small Texas school districts that left the state's group health plan for school employees on September 1, 2022 rejoin early instead of waiting the usual five years. It covers only districts with 500 or fewer employees, and they must send written notice to the plan's trustee by December 31, 2025 to rejoin starting September 1, 2026. Districts that rejoin pay an extra risk stabilization fee set by the trustee for the first plan year, must stay in the plan until September 1, 2031, and the special rule expires that same day.

CHARGES

[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“the trustee shall impose a risk stabilization fee in an amount determined by the trustee on the premiums of a school district”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new fee on returning districts with no cap, and the trustee alone sets the amount. It is a real cost tied to the early return the caption describes.

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 35%

THE TEXT

“discontinued participation in the program effective on September 1, 2022, in accordance with Section 1579.155(a)”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The early-return option goes only to districts that left on one specific date and have 500 or fewer employees. The caption's word 'certain' signals the narrowness, so this is a mild flag.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 25, 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

Feb 20, 2025Filed
Mar 20, 2025Read first time
Mar 20, 2025Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Mar 31, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 31, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 31, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Mar 31, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 7, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 7, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 11, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 11, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 15, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 24, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 28, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 28, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 28, 2025Amendment(s) offered 1-Darby
Apr 28, 2025Amendment amended 2-Darby
Apr 28, 2025Record vote RV#674
Apr 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 28, 2025Amendment adopted as amended 1-Darby
Apr 28, 2025Record vote RV#675
Apr 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 28, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 28, 2025Record vote RV#676
Apr 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 29, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 29, 2025Passed
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#761
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 29, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 29, 2025Received from the House
Apr 30, 2025Read first time
Apr 30, 2025Referred to Education K-16
May 8, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 8, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 8, 2025Left pending in committee
May 13, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 13, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 16, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 16, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 16, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
May 16, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 19, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 19, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 20, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 21, 2025Not again placed on intent calendar
May 25, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
May 25, 2025Laid before the Senate
May 25, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
May 25, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 25, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 25, 2025Record vote
May 25, 2025Read 3rd time
May 25, 2025Passed
May 25, 2025Record vote
May 25, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 25, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 25, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 28, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3967
May 28, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 28, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 29, 2025Reported enrolled
May 30, 2025Signed in the House
May 31, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 31, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 141 yea · 4 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 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

Drew Darby

Donors

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50KGideon Powell$30,000Dustin Burrows Campaign$28K

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 · Jul 9, 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 Truth and Liberty PAC$50,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007659, 101072052.

Gideon Powell$30,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign$27,600.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $27,600.00
Total: $27,600.00

polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 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: 101068080.

Money

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

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007659, 101072052.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $27,600.00
Total: $27,600.00

polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 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: 101068080.

Votes8

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 125
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 4
Excused: 9

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3967

Representative Darby moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3126. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3126 prevailed by (Record 3967): 125 Yeas, 11 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 125 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 3126 (Zaffirini) Relating to the election of certain entities to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees; imposing a fee. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 3126 (Zaffirini) Relating to the election of certain entities to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees; imposing a fee. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Passage to third reading

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

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

CSHB 3126 (Zaffirini) Relating to the election of certain entities to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees; imposing a fee. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 29, 2025

Yea: 141
Nay: 4
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 3
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 761

HB 3126 was passed by (Record 761): 141 Yeas, 4 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 141 (published)
Nay: 4 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea: 134
Nay: 7
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 7
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 676

HB 3126, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 676): 134 Yeas, 7 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 134 (published)
Nay: 7 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea: 143
Nay: 3
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 2
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 675

Amendment No. 1, as amended, was adopted by (Record 675): 143 Yeas, 3 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 143 (published)
Nay: 3 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea: 141
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 7
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 674

Amendment No. 2 was adopted by (Record 674): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 141 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses10

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

Self1 registration
Self; Texas Public Charter Schools Association1 registration
TASB1 registration
Texas AFT2 registrations
Texas Association of School Administrators2 registrations
Texas State Teachers Association1 registration

On

Teacher Retirement System of Texas2 registrations

Sources

10 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

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 25, 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 20, 2025

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 1:48 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

SB 2733 by Cook (similar)

Subjects

Education--School Districts

Insurance--Health & Accident

Text

The text as introduced · 309 words

By: Darby
H.B. No. 3126

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the election of certain school districts to participate

in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is

amended by adding Section 1579.1551 to read as follows:

Sec. 1579.1551. SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT PROGRAM

PARTICIPATION. (a) This section applies to a school district that:

(1) discontinued participation in the program

effective on September 1, 2022, in accordance with Section

1579.155(a); and

(2) at the time the district elects to participate in

the program under this section, has 500 or fewer employees.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 1579.155(b), a school district

to which this section applies may elect to participate in the

program before the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the

district's election to discontinue participation in the program if

the district:

(1) provides written notice to the trustee not later

than December 31, 2025, of the district's election to participate

in the program effective beginning September 1, 2026; and

(2) complies with any other requirements established

by the trustee for program participation.

(c) For the plan year beginning September 1, 2026, the

trustee shall impose a risk stabilization fee in an amount

determined by the trustee on the premiums of a school district to

which this section applies.

(d) A school district that elects to participate in the

program in accordance with this section may not elect to

discontinue participation until September 1, 2031.

(e) The trustee by rule may impose additional requirements,

conditions, and deadlines with which a school district to which

this section applies must comply to elect to participate in the

program in accordance with this section.

(f) This section expires September 1, 2031.

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

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

Dustin Burrows Campaign

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

Dustin Burrows Campaign

House May 28, 2025

Senate May 25, 2025

Senate May 25, 2025

Senate May 25, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

House Apr 28, 2025

House Apr 28, 2025

House Apr 28, 2025

For

On

Companion