Monitoring the Session

HB 879

bill requiring licenses for doctors and nurses leaving the military

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. James FrankRHouse 69

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 the licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Good-standing license elsewhere, active duty in Texas. Boards must license.

The bill requires the Texas Medical Board to license doctors, and the nursing board to license nurses, who hold a good-standing license in another state and recently left military service while on active duty in Texas. Applicants must have left the military within one year, have been authorized to treat service members or veterans, and have passed the Texas jurisprudence exam. People with misconduct discharges, troubled licenses, or felony and certain misdemeanor records are barred, and the new path opens September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1340 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB879 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers.

WHAT IT DOES

Good-standing license elsewhere, active duty in Texas. Boards must license.

The bill requires the Texas Medical Board to license doctors, and the nursing board to license nurses, who hold a good-standing license in another state and recently left military service while on active duty in Texas. Applicants must have left the military within one year, have been authorized to treat service members or veterans, and have passed the Texas jurisprudence exam. People with misconduct discharges, troubled licenses, or felony and certain misdemeanor records are barred, and the new path opens September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 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 Public Health
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Amended 1-Frank and Bucy
  19. Record vote RV#622
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Passed to engrossment as amended
  22. Record vote RV#623
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Read 3rd time
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote RV#729
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the House
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Health & Human Services
  31. Co-sponsor authorized
  32. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Left pending in committee
  35. Considered in public hearing
  36. Vote taken in committee
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  38. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  39. Committee report printed and distributed
  40. Placed on intent calendar
  41. Co-sponsor authorized
  42. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  43. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  44. Vote recorded in Journal
  45. Three day rule suspended
  46. Record vote
  47. Read 3rd time
  48. Passed
  49. Record vote
  50. Senate passage reported
  51. Reported enrolled
  52. Signed in the House
  53. Signed in the Senate
  54. Sent to the Governor
  55. Signed by the Governor
  56. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 146 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 15, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

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 23, 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 30, 2025 to Oct 19, 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: 101007594, 101028399, 101073104.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$10,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Aug 18, 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: 100992188, 101068805.

PROVIDER COALITION FOR CARE PAC (NURSING HOME COALITION)$5,000.00

PROVIDER COALITION FOR CARE PAC (NURSING HOME COALITION)

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 19, 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: 101028399.

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 30, 2025 to Oct 19, 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: 101007594, 101028399, 101073104.

×

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Aug 18, 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: 100992188, 101068805.

×

PROVIDER COALITION FOR CARE PAC (NURSING HOME COALITION)

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 19, 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: 101028399.

Votes6

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 879 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 879 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 729

HB 879 was passed by (Record 729): 146 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 623

CSHB 879, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 623): 147 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 622

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 622): 146 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses31
For
30
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • AARP Texas2 registrations
  • American Academy of Physician Associates1 registration
  • City of Del Rio1 registration
  • Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
  • National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP-TX)1 registration
  • San Antonio Chamber of Commerce1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Americans for Prosperity2 registrations
  • Self; Texas Academy of Physician Assistant1 registration
  • Self; Texas Association of Benefit Administrators1 registration
  • Self; The LIBRE Initiative1 registration
  • Teaching Hospitals of Texas1 registration
  • Teaching hospitals of texas1 registration
  • Texans for Affordable Healthcare2 registrations
  • Texas 20362 registrations
  • Texas Academy of Physician Assistants1 registration
  • Texas Association of Business2 registrations
  • Texas Association of Health Plans2 registrations
  • Texas Chapter American College of Physicians1 registration
  • Texas Hospital Association2 registrations
  • Texas Medical Association1 registration
  • Texas Nurse Practitioners1 registration
  • Tx Mayors of Military Communities Coalition1 registration

On

  • Texas Medical Board1 registration
Sources

31 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.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 1340

by Rep. Frank, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 16, 2023: Referred to Health & Human Services

Relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers to practice in underserved areas.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/28/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1787 by Hagenbuch (very similar)

Subjects

Health Care Providers

Military & Veterans

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

NURSES & NURSE AIDES

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

PHYSICIANS

MEDICAL BOARD, TEXAS

NURSING, TEXAS BOARD OF

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 607 words

By: Frank
H.B. No. 879

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health

care providers.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 155.108 to read as follows:

Sec. 155.108. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE

MEDICINE. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed forces of

the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section 55.001.

(b) The board shall issue a license to practice medicine to

an applicant who:

(1) is licensed in good standing as a physician in

another state;

(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United

States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more

than one year before the application date for a license under this

section;

(3) was, at the time of retiring from or leaving

military service:

(A) serving on active duty in this state; and

(B) authorized as a physician to treat persons

enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans; and

(4) has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence

examination.

(c) The board may not issue a license under this section to

an applicant who:

(1) was discharged or separated from the armed forces

of the United States:

(A) on the basis of substandard conduct; or

(B) for any act of misconduct or moral or

professional dereliction;

(2) holds a medical license or a license to prescribe,

dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:

(A) is currently under active investigation; or

(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or

action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or

(3) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication

community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under

active investigation for the commission of:

(A) a felony; or

(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:

Sec. 301.262. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE

MEDICINE. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed forces of

the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section 55.001.

(b) The board shall issue a license to practice nursing to

an applicant who:

(1) is licensed in good standing as a nurse in another

state;

(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United

States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more

than one year before the application date for a license under this

section;

(3) was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise

leaving military service:

(A) serving on active duty in this state; and

(B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons

enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans; and

(4) has passed the jurisprudence examination.

(c) The board may not issue a license under this section to

an applicant who:

(1) was discharged or separated from the armed forces

of the United States:

(A) on the basis of substandard conduct; or

(B) for any act of misconduct or moral or

professional dereliction;

(2) holds a nursing license or a license to prescribe,

dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:

(A) is currently under active investigation; or

(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or

action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or

(3) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication

community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under

active investigation for the commission of:

(A) a felony; or

(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.