HB 3735
Shofner Bill Makes Maternity Plans Cover Home Births
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 health benefit plan coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Hospital, birthing center or home, plans with maternity benefits must pay. Nurse midwife care included.
The bill requires health insurance plans that already offer maternity benefits to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care whether it happens in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home. It reaches private insurers, HMOs, and similar carriers, plus state employee, teacher, university, county employee, and local risk-pool health plans. Starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, those plans must pay for listed items, including nurse midwife care, prenatal scans and lab tests, labor pain drugs, newborn screenings, and standard newborn shots and ointment.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 4, 2025 and referred to the House Insurance committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3735 · 2025-03-04
SOLD BY
+ 10 coauthors
ITEM
relating to health benefit plan coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting.
WHAT IT DOES
Hospital, birthing center or home, plans with maternity benefits must pay. Nurse midwife care included.
The bill requires health insurance plans that already offer maternity benefits to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care whether it happens in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home. It reaches private insurers, HMOs, and similar carriers, plus state employee, teacher, university, county employee, and local risk-pool health plans. Starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, those plans must pay for listed items, including nurse midwife care, prenatal scans and lab tests, labor pain drugs, newborn screenings, and standard newborn shots and ointment.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Insurance
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“vitamin K injections, hepatitis B vaccines, and antibiotic eye ointment provided to a newborn.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill writes required insurance coverage for newborn injections, vaccines, and prescription labor drugs into state law.
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 3, 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 Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 4, 2025
03/26/2025 H Referred to Insurance: Mar 26 2025 11:31AM
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 · Insurance · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions
Insurance--Health & Accident
Women
PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH
Text
The text as introduced · 494 words
89R14545 SCF-D By: Shofner H.B. No. 3735 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to health benefit plan coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 1366, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. COVERAGE FOR PRENATAL CARE, CHILDBIRTH, AND POSTNATAL CARE Sec. 1366.151. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "birthing center" has the meaning assigned by Section 244.002, Health and Safety Code. Sec. 1366.152. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides benefits for medical, surgical, or prescription drug expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is issued by: (1) an insurance company; (2) a group hospital service corporation operating under Chapter 842; (3) a health maintenance organization operating under Chapter 843; (4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; (5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; (6) a stipulated premium company operating under Chapter 884; (7) a fraternal benefit society operating under Chapter 885; (8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or (9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies to: (1) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; (2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; (3) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; (4) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter 1601; (5) county employee group health benefits provided under Chapter 157, Local Government Code; and (6) health and accident coverage provided by a risk pool created under Chapter 172, Local Government Code. Sec. 1366.153. COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit plan that provides maternity benefits must provide coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting. (b) The coverage required under this section includes: (1) prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided by a nurse midwife licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse; (2) prenatal care visits, including an ultrasound, dating scan, or anatomy scan; (3) glucose, blood, and urine tests related to prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care; (4) childbirth in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting; (5) prescription drugs related to childbirth, including prescription drugs related to pain management during labor; (6) newborn screening and hearing tests; and (7) vitamin K injections, hepatitis B vaccines, and antibiotic eye ointment provided to a newborn. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1366, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.