Monitoring the Session

HB 3560

bill adding private mental hospitals to staff screening rules

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Katrina PiersonRHouse 33

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 criminal background check requirements for staff at certain licensed hospitals.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Chapter 577 hospitals join the Chapter 253 list.

The bill adds hospitals licensed under Chapter 577 of the Health and Safety Code, the state's private mental hospital licensing chapter, to the list of facilities covered by Chapter 253 staff screening rules. It touches private psychiatric hospitals, the people they hire, and the patients in their care, and it also requires these hospitals' license applications to name the person responsible for daily operations. On the ground, these hospitals must follow the same staff screening rules that already apply to nursing homes, assisted living centers and similar facilities, starting immediately or on September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: 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-HB3560 · 2025-02-28

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to criminal background check requirements for staff at certain licensed hospitals.

WHAT IT DOES

Chapter 577 hospitals join the Chapter 253 list.

The bill adds hospitals licensed under Chapter 577 of the Health and Safety Code, the state's private mental hospital licensing chapter, to the list of facilities covered by Chapter 253 staff screening rules. It touches private psychiatric hospitals, the people they hire, and the patients in their care, and it also requires these hospitals' license applications to name the person responsible for daily operations. On the ground, these hospitals must follow the same staff screening rules that already apply to nursing homes, assisted living centers and similar facilities, starting immediately or on September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($2,211,950)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 12, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3560, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($3,057,658) 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 · ($2,211,950)

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. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Amended 1-Pierson
  19. Passed to engrossment as amended
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#1438
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Health & Human Services
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken in committee
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Vote taken in committee
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Placed on intent calendar
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Three day rule suspended
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote
  46. Senate passage reported
  47. Reported enrolled
  48. Signed in the House
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Sent to the Governor
  51. Signed by the Governor
  52. Effective on 9/1/25
ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

CAPTION MISMATCH · analysis confidence 35%

THE TEXT

“the name and address of the person to be responsible for the daily operations of the facility;”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption covers only background checks for hospital staff, but this section adds a new license application item naming the daily operations manager. It is a small, related add-on that does not change what the bill mainly does.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 148 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 19, 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

Donors

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 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 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$90,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$90,000.00

Cash
$90,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$90,000.00

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 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.

Report IDs: 101006727, 101058404, 101071824.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$32,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100983941, 101006727, 101028341, 101058404, 101071824.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

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 · Jul 29, 2024 to Sep 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: 100983941, 101068368.

Money

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

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$90,000.00

Cash
$90,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$90,000.00

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 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.

Report IDs: 101006727, 101058404, 101071824.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100983941, 101006727, 101028341, 101058404, 101071824.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

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 · Jul 29, 2024 to Sep 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: 100983941, 101068368.

Votes4

Senate May 19, 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 19, 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 Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3560 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 19, 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 Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 3560 at this time on its second reading: HB 3560, Relating to the licensing of mental hospitals and mental health facilities and the definition of facility for the purposes of the employee misconduct registry. The motion prevailed. Senator Hagenbuch 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 6, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1438

HB 3560 was passed by (Record 1438): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses17
For
13
Against
0
On
4
Names

For

  • AARP Texas1 registration
  • Acadia Healthcare1 registration
  • Citizens Commission on Human Rights1 registration
  • Oceans Healthcare1 registration
  • Oceans Healthcare and Acadia Healthcare1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Signature Healthcare1 registration
  • TABHS1 registration
  • Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems2 registrations
  • Texas Medical Association1 registration

On

  • Health and Human Services Commission4 registrations
Sources

17 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($2,211,950)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 12, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3560, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($3,057,658) 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 · ($2,211,950)

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 Feb 28, 2025

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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.

Sponsors

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Hospitals

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

CRIMINAL RECORDS

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 578 words

By: Pierson
H.B. No. 3560

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to criminal background check requirements for staff at

certain licensed hospitals.

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

SECTION 1. Section 253.001(4), Health and Safety Code, as

amended by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 887 (H.B. 4696), Sec. 9,

is amended to read as follows:

(4) "Facility" means:

(A) a facility:

(i) licensed by the department;

(ii) licensed under Chapter 252; [ or ]

(iii) licensed under Chapter 555; or

(iv) licensed as a hospital under Chapter 577;

(B) an adult foster care provider that contracts with

the department;

(C) a home and community support services agency

licensed by the department under Chapter 142; or

(D) a prescribed pediatric extended care center

licensed under Chapter 248A.

SECTION 2. Section 253.001(4), Health and Safety Code, as

amended by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 674 (H.B. 1009), Sec. 4,

is amended to read as follows:

(4) "Facility" means:

(A) a nursing facility licensed by the commission

under Chapter 242;

(B) an intermediate care facility for

individuals with an intellectual disability licensed by the

commission under Chapter 252;

(C) an adult foster care provider that contracts

with the commission;

(D) a home and community support services agency

licensed by the commission under Chapter 142;

(E) a prescribed pediatric extended care center

licensed by the commission under Chapter 248A;

(F) an assisted living facility licensed by the

commission under Chapter 247;

(F-1) a facility licensed as a hospital under

Chapter 577;

(G) a day activity and health services facility

licensed by the commission under Chapter 103, Human Resources Code;

(H) a residential child-care facility as defined

by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code, at which an elderly person

or an adult with a disability resides or is in the facility's care;

(I) a provider who provides home and

community-based services under the home and community-based

services (HCS) waiver program or the Texas home living (TxHmL)

waiver program; or

(J) a facility that is exempt from licensure

under Section 252.003.

SECTION 3. Section 577.004(d), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) The application must contain:

(1) the name and location of the mental hospital or

mental health facility;

(2) the name and address of the physician to be in

charge of the hospital care and treatment of the patients;

(2-a) the name and address of the person to be

responsible for the daily operations of the facility;

(3) the names and addresses of the mental hospital

owners, including the officers, directors, and principal

stockholders if the owner is a corporation or other association, or

the names and addresses of the members of the board of trustees of

the community center or the directors of the entity designated by

the department to provide mental health services;

(4) the bed capacity to be authorized by the license;

(5) the number, duties, and qualifications of the

professional staff;

(6) a description of the equipment and facilities of

the mental hospital or mental health facility; and

(7) other information required by the department,

including affirmative evidence of ability to comply with the

department's rules and standards.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all 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.