HB 4521
Martinez Bill Puts 10 Percent Fee On For-Profit Border Training Programs
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Both charges, and why
Bracket bill
This border test is stacked with a county population of at least 500,000 and a rule that no city in the county be greater than 500,000, so the new section reaches only border counties that meet all three tests. The caption says "certain" providers but names no place or border limit.
Bracket billNew fee, fund, board or appointees
The bill creates a new fee that covered providers must pay to the department, set at 10 percent of a student's enrollment cost. The caption openly says the bill authorizes a fee.
New fee, fund, board or appointeesInitial review · graded Oct 21, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the requirements for certain emergency medical services certification providers; authorizing a fee.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Only border counties of 500K-plus with no city over 500K. The fee can’t pass to students.
The bill sets new rules for for-profit emergency medical services training programs in a county that touches the Texas-Mexico border, has at least 500,000 people, and has no city with more than 500,000 people. Those programs must post the cost of every course on their websites, pay the department a fee equal to 10 percent of each student's enrollment cost, and may not pass that fee on to students. Their course coordinators must also hold a bachelor's degree and have at least 10 years of experience as a basic instructor in an emergency medical services program, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the requirements for certain emergency medical services certification providers; authorizing a fee.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4521 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the requirements for certain emergency medical services certification providers; authorizing a fee.
WHAT IT DOES
Only border counties of 500K-plus with no city over 500K. The fee can’t pass to students.
The bill sets new rules for for-profit emergency medical services training programs in a county that touches the Texas-Mexico border, has at least 500,000 people, and has no city with more than 500,000 people. Those programs must post the cost of every course on their websites, pay the department a fee equal to 10 percent of each student's enrollment cost, and may not pass that fee on to students. Their course coordinators must also hold a bachelor's degree and have at least 10 years of experience as a basic instructor in an emergency medical services program, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 70%
This border test is stacked with a county population of at least 500,000 and a rule that no city in the county be greater than 500,000, so the new section reaches only border counties that meet all three tests. The caption says "certain" providers but names no place or border limit.
[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 60%
The bill creates a new fee that covered providers must pay to the department, set at 10 percent of a student's enrollment cost. The caption openly says the bill authorizes a fee.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Health
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Jun 26, 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.
Border Health PAC$10,000.00
Border Health PAC
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 2025. 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: 101026922.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$9,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$9,000.00
- Cash
- $9,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $9,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Apr 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: 100979779, 101026922, 101055340.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Border Health PAC
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 2025. 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: 101026922.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$9,000.00
- Cash
- $9,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $9,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Apr 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: 100979779, 101026922, 101055340.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Adversarial review by claude-opus-5-5 at high effort: Smells.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Public Health: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
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
Subjects
Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs
Education--Higher--Private Schools
Health Care Providers
Health--Emergency Services & Personnel
BORDER
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 343 words
89R17115 MCF-D By: Martinez H.B. No. 4521 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the requirements for certain emergency medical services certification providers; authorizing a fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0561 to read as follows: Sec. 773.0561. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATION PROVIDERS. (a) This section applies to a for-profit provider of an emergency medical services certification course or training program located in a county that: (1) is adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border; (2) has a population of at least 500,000; and (3) does not have a municipality with a population greater than 500,000. (b) A for-profit provider of an emergency medical services certification course or training program: (1) must disclose on the provider's Internet website the cost of each certification course or training program the provider offers; (2) must pay to the department a fee equal to 10 percent of a student's cost to enroll in the certification course or training program; and (3) may not charge a student directly or increase the student's cost to enroll in the certification course or training program by an amount equal to the amount paid to the department under Subdivision (2) or otherwise require the student to cover the cost of the fee. (c) In addition to the minimum standards outlined in Section 773.050, a course coordinator for emergency medical services personnel training for a for-profit provider of an emergency medical services certification course or training program must: (1) hold a bachelor's degree conferred by an accredited institution of higher education; and (2) have at least 10 years of experience as a basic instructor in a program related to emergency medical services. SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 773.0561, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.