SB 1332: Hancock Bill Lets Insurers Forgive Premiums, If They Want To

Caption

relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

One verb does the work: “may waive.” No duty, no penalty, no deadline.

The bill lets an HMO or health insurer choose to forgive premiums an employer or other group policyholder owes for a worker who already lost eligibility, when the group reported that loss late. It touches group health plan holders, HMOs and insurers. The waiver applies only if no covered services were given after the month eligibility ended, and it is optional, so nothing is required of the insurer.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on May 30, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1332 · 2025-02-14

SOLD BY

Sen. Kelly HancockRSenate 9

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates.

WHAT IT DOES

One verb does the work: “may waive.” No duty, no penalty, no deadline.

The bill lets an HMO or health insurer choose to forgive premiums an employer or other group policyholder owes for a worker who already lost eligibility, when the group reported that loss late. It touches group health plan holders, HMOs and insurers. The waiver applies only if no covered services were given after the month eligibility ended, and it is optional, so nothing is required of the insurer.

CHARGES

[x] LIST OF FEELINGSanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

…“the insurer may waive the policyholder's”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only operative verb in both sections is "may waive." No insurer or HMO has to forgive anything, so the bill creates no duty, penalty or deadline.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 17, 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

Feb 14, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 14, 2025Filed
Feb 28, 2025Read first time
Feb 28, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
Mar 18, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 18, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 18, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 18, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 26, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 26, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 31, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Mar 31, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 31, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 2, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 10, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 10, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 10, 2025Laid before the Senate
Apr 10, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 10, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 10, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 10, 2025Passed
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 14, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to Insurance
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 2, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 2, 2025Committee report distributed
May 5, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 15, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion HB 2583
May 15, 2025Read 2nd time
May 15, 2025Postponed 5/16/25 9:00 AM
May 19, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 19, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 19, 2025Record vote RV#2925
May 19, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 20, 2025Read 3rd time
May 20, 2025Passed
May 20, 2025Record vote RV#3005
May 20, 2025House passage reported
May 20, 2025Reported enrolled
May 21, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 21, 2025Signed in the House
May 21, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 30, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 30, 2025Effective immediately

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 145 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Kelly Hancock

Donors

Stephen Brauer JR$57,791

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$14,750

Q Political Action Committee$12,500

Top donors to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC during his Senate service. Not tied to this bill.

Sources

Gifts to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC dated July 1, 2024 to June 18, 2025, while he served in the Senate.

Derived from itemized gifts. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Votes5

House May 20, 2025

Yea: 145
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 2
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3005

SB 1332 was passed by (Record 3005): 145 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 145 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 19, 2025

Yea: 143
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 3

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2925

SB 1332 was passed to third reading by (Record 2925): 143 Yeas, 1 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 143 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 29
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

MilesPresent, not voting

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1332 (Hancock) Relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates. (viva voce vote) (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles

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

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 29
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

MilesPresent, not voting

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1332 (Hancock) Relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates. (viva voce vote) (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles

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

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

SB 1332 (Hancock) Relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates. (viva voce vote) (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles (29-0-1) "Present-not voting" Miles

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.

Witnesses12

For: 11
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas1 registration
National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP)1 registration
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)1 registration
Self3 registrations
Self; Texas Association of Benefit Administrators1 registration
Texans for Affordable Healthcare1 registration
Texas Association of Business1 registration
Texas Association of Health Plans1 registration
Texas Employers for Affordable Healthcare1 registration

On

Texas Department of Insurance1 registration

Sources

12 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 17, 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 Senate · Filed Feb 14, 2025

05/30/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 2:08 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

César BlancoDSenate 29

Companion

HB 2583 by Hull (identical)

Subjects

Insurance--Health & Accident

HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS

Text

The text as introduced · 285 words

89R8897 MEW-F

By: Hancock
S.B. No. 1332

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a group health benefit plan policy or contract holder's

obligation to pay premiums on behalf of an individual after the

individual's eligibility for group coverage terminates.

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

SECTION 1. Section 843.210, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) If the group contract holder notifies the health

maintenance organization of the termination of an enrollee's

eligibility for coverage later than the end of the month in which

the enrollee's eligibility for the group coverage terminated, the

health maintenance organization may waive the contract holder's

liability for premiums on the enrollee for any subsequent months,

provided that no covered services were provided to the enrollee

after the end of the month in which the enrollee's eligibility

terminated.

SECTION 2. Section 1301.0061, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) If the group policyholder notifies the insurer of the

termination of an individual's eligibility for coverage later than

the end of the month in which the individual's eligibility for the

group coverage terminated, the insurer may waive the policyholder's

liability for premiums on the individual for any subsequent months,

provided that no covered services were provided to the individual

after the end of the month in which the individual's eligibility

terminated.

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.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

House May 20, 2025

House May 19, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

For

On

Companion