HB 4438

Shofner Bill Allows A Pediatric Program It Never Requires

Companion SB 1998 became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review

Rep. Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

Both charges, and why

List of feelings

THE TEXT

“The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may contract with one or more organizations to operate a statewide pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The only operative act is permission. The board may contract, but it is never required to, and the bill sets no funding and no deadline. The other 'must' clauses only set eligibility for a program that may never exist.

List of feelings

Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“except that the term also includes the school of osteopathic medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The definition names one school and adds it to the eligible medical schools. The effect is small, since it widens who can join rather than handing out a direct benefit.

Carve-out

Needs review · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a preceptorship program in a pediatric subspecialty for medical students in this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

The board “may contract.” No funding, no deadline. Incarnate Word’s osteopathic school makes the list.

The bill lets the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board hire one or more outside groups to run a statewide program that pairs medical students with pediatric subspecialists. Only tax-exempt nonprofits or groups run by an accredited medical school can get the money, and only students interested in a pediatric subspecialty can take part. Nothing has to happen on the ground, because the board is allowed to set up the program but is never required to, and the bill sets no funding.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4438 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Rep. Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

Rep. Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

Rep. Lauren Ashley SimmonsDHouse 146

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a preceptorship program in a pediatric subspecialty for medical students in this state.

WHAT IT DOES

The board “may contract.” No funding, no deadline. Incarnate Word’s osteopathic school makes the list.

CHARGES

[x] LIST OF FEELINGSanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may contract with one or more organizations to operate a statewide pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 30%

THE TEXT

…“except that the term also includes the school of osteopathic medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The definition names one school and adds it to the eligible medical schools. The effect is small, since it widens who can join rather than handing out a direct benefit.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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

Mar 11, 2025Filed
Apr 2, 2025Read first time
Apr 2, 2025Referred to Higher Education
Apr 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 15, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 29, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 29, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 30, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 30, 2025Committee report distributed
May 1, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 5, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 7, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 7, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 1998
May 7, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

TAXPAYER-FUNDED NGOS

THE TEXT

“qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Section 501, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501); or”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The program would be run by outside contractors, and tax-exempt nonprofits are one of the two kinds of groups that can receive the state money, instead of the board running it itself.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Joanne Shofner

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20KMontgomery Bennett$15,000Bill Patton$11,000

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.

Team

Sources

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.

Montgomery Bennett$15,000.00

Bill Patton$11,000.00

Money

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.

Team

Sources

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.

Witnesses11

For: 11
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Children's Hospital Association of Texas1 registration
DHR Health1 registration
El Paso Children’s Hospital1 registration
Make Texans Healthy Again1 registration
Self; Texas Pediatric Society2 registrations
Texas Chapter American College of Physicians1 registration
Texas Children’s Hospital1 registration
Texas Hospital Association1 registration
Texas Medical Association1 registration
Texas medical association1 registration

Sources

11 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 11, 2025

05/07/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:55 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52

Helen KerwinRHouse 58

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1998 by Huffman (identical)

Subjects

Education--Higher--Health Institutions

PEDIATRICIANS

PHYSICIANS

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 275 words

89R13146 JTZ-F

By: Shofner
H.B. No. 4438

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a preceptorship program in a pediatric subspecialty for

medical students in this state.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 58, Education Code, is amended by adding

Section 58.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 58.011. STATEWIDE PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY

PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Medical school" has the meaning assigned by

Section 61.501(1), except that the term also includes the school of

osteopathic medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word.

(2) "Pediatric subspecialty" means a pediatric

medical subspecialty certification offered by a member board of the

American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic

Association.

(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may

contract with one or more organizations to operate a statewide

pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program for medical students

enrolled in Texas medical schools.

(c) An organization eligible to receive funds under this

section must:

(1) qualify for exemption from federal income tax

under Section 501, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section

501); or

(2) be operated by a state accredited medical school.

(d) Students eligible to participate in the preceptorship

program under this section must indicate an interest in a career in

a pediatric subspecialty.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

academic year.

SECTION 3. 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.