Monitoring the SessionHB 3639
Died in committee
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
relating to the treatment of a patient by a physical therapist without a referral.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
After that, a doctor’s referral. Board rules due December 1, 2025.
The bill lets a physical therapist treat a patient without a doctor's referral for up to 20 consecutive business days instead of 10. It touches physical therapists, their patients, and the referring practitioners who now see referral requests later. The separate exception in subsection (a-2) is repealed, and the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners must write rules by December 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 4291 by Rep. Swanson (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4291 by Rep. Swanson (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 3, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB3639 · 2025-03-03
+ 1 coauthor
relating to the treatment of a patient by a physical therapist without a referral.
After that, a doctor’s referral. Board rules due December 1, 2025.
The bill lets a physical therapist treat a patient without a doctor's referral for up to 20 consecutive business days instead of 10. It touches physical therapists, their patients, and the referring practitioners who now see referral requests later. The separate exception in subsection (a-2) is repealed, and the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners must write rules by December 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
…“physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 20 [ 10 ] consecutive business days.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill loosens the referral gatekeeping channel by letting patients see a physical therapist directly for twice as long before a referral is needed.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 19, 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.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.
$12,750.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.
$11,000.00
Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.
$12,750.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.
$11,000.00
Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Swanson, different lead author · Died in committee · reworked
Introduced textLast action, Mar 21, 2023: Referred to Public Health
Relating to the treatment of a patient by a physical therapist without a referral.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Mar 3, 2025
03/25/2025 H Referred to Public Health: Mar 25 2025 3:26PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee
SB 157 by Menéndez (identical)
SB 671 by Hughes (identical)
Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS, TEXAS
The text as introduced · 163 words
89R2376 GP-D By: Vasut H.B. No. 3639 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the treatment of a patient by a physical therapist without a referral. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 453.301(a-1) and (b), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows: (a-1) A [ Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), a ] physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 20 [ 10 ] consecutive business days. (b) The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized under Subsection (a-1) [ or (a-2), as applicable ]. SECTION 2. Section 453.301(a-2), Occupations Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 453.301, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
