Monitoring the Session

HB 837

bill teaching barbers to spot domestic violence victims

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Donna HowardDHouse 48

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 instruction for barbers and cosmetologists on identifying and assisting victims of domestic violence.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Schools teach it. License holders take continuing education on it.

The bill requires barber and cosmetology schools to teach students how to spot and help victims of domestic violence, and requires licensed barbers and cosmetologists to take continuing education on the same topic. It touches barber and cosmetology students, schools, and license holders, plus the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which must write the rules. Once the rules are adopted, training on domestic violence becomes part of getting and keeping these licenses, starting with a September 1, 2025 effective date.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee 8-1 on Apr 1, 2025. Taken up on the floor on May 1, 2025 and postponed. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB837 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Donna HowardDHouse 48 Rep. Sam HarlessRHouse 126

ITEM

relating to instruction for barbers and cosmetologists on identifying and assisting victims of domestic violence.

WHAT IT DOES

Schools teach it. License holders take continuing education on it.

The bill requires barber and cosmetology schools to teach students how to spot and help victims of domestic violence, and requires licensed barbers and cosmetologists to take continuing education on the same topic. It touches barber and cosmetology students, schools, and license holders, plus the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which must write the rules. Once the rules are adopted, training on domestic violence becomes part of getting and keeping these licenses, starting with a September 1, 2025 effective date.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 23, 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

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Postponed 10/3/25 10:00 AM
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donna Howard

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15KTexas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee$8KHDCC Incumbent Protection Fund$7K

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Money

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Witnesses6
For
5
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • An Nisa Hope Center1 registration
  • An-Nisa Hope Center1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Texas advocacy project1 registration
  • Texas Council on Family Violence1 registration

On

  • TDLR1 registration
Sources

6 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 · March 23, 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 I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/01/2025 H Postponed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 8 aye, 1 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Family--Family Violence

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

BARBERS

CONTINUING EDUCATION

COSMETOLOGISTS

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS COMMISSION OF

Text

The text as introduced · 168 words

89R2342 RDR-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 837

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to instruction for barbers and cosmetologists on

identifying and assisting victims of domestic violence.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1603.2308, Occupations Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b-1) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must require

students to receive instruction on identifying and assisting

victims of domestic violence.

SECTION 2. Section 1603.3002, Occupations Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) In addition to any continuing education requirements

established under Subsection (a), the commission shall adopt rules

requiring a license holder to complete continuing education on

identifying and assisting victims of domestic violence.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall

adopt rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.