HB 5531
Midwives added to the child-neglect law’s medical provider definition
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · 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 exempting medical care provided by a midwife from being considered as neglect of a child.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The definition includes licensed midwives and nurse midwives.
The bill adds a definition of "medical provider" to the child abuse and neglect chapter of the Family Code, and that definition expressly includes licensed midwives and nurse midwives. It touches families who use midwives and the child welfare workers who decide whether a parent failed to get a child proper medical care. On its own text, the bill only adds the definition; it does not rewrite the neglect definition or state any exemption, so any change on the ground depends on how that term is used elsewhere in existing law.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 111 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 111 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5531 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to exempting medical care provided by a midwife from being considered as neglect of a child.
WHAT IT DOES
The definition includes licensed midwives and nurse midwives.
The bill adds a definition of "medical provider" to the child abuse and neglect chapter of the Family Code, and that definition expressly includes licensed midwives and nurse midwives. It touches families who use midwives and the child welfare workers who decide whether a parent failed to get a child proper medical care. On its own text, the bill only adds the definition; it does not rewrite the neglect definition or state any exemption, so any change on the ground depends on how that term is used elsewhere in existing law.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
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 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.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$15,000.00
- Cash
- $15,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $15,000.00
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 Oct 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: 100985297, 101031291, 101059636, 101070104.
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee$7,500.00
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee
$7,500.00
- Cash
- $7,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,500.00
Also funds 38 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 12, 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: 100985297, 101069647.
HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund$7,000.00
HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 8 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 22, 2025 to May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on May 21, 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: 101059636.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$15,000.00
- Cash
- $15,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $15,000.00
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 Oct 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: 100985297, 101031291, 101059636, 101070104.
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee
$7,500.00
- Cash
- $7,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,500.00
Also funds 38 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 12, 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: 100985297, 101069647.
HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 8 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 22, 2025 to May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on May 21, 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: 101059636.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Public Health: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Family--Child Protection
Health Care Providers
MIDWIVES & MIDWIFERY
Text
The text as introduced · 111 words
89R16838 DNC-D By: Howard H.B. No. 5531 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to exempting medical care provided by a midwife from being considered as neglect of a child. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 261.001, Family Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows: (3-a) "Medical provider" means an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services in this state. The term includes a midwife, as defined by Section 203.002, Occupations Code, and a nurse midwife as described by Section 301.152, Occupations Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.