Hospitals apply their own criteria consistently to every applicant.
The bill requires hospitals to use an objective process, applying their own adopted criteria consistently to every applicant, when deciding whether to grant, deny, renew or change medical staff privileges. It touches Texas hospitals and the physicians, podiatrists and dentists who seek privileges there, and it makes clear that competency documentation rules can sit in any hospital policy, not only in the bylaws. Starting September 1, 2025, a hospital that applies its privileging criteria unevenly would be out of step with state law.
Labels
Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on May 9, 2025. Died in the House: failed to receive a favorable vote in the Public Health committee on May 23, 2025.
relating to the process by which a hospital makes certain
determinations regarding medical staff privileges.
WHAT IT DOES
Hospitals apply their own criteria consistently to every applicant.
The bill requires hospitals to use an objective process, applying their own adopted criteria consistently to every applicant, when deciding whether to grant, deny, renew or change medical staff privileges. It touches Texas hospitals and the physicians, podiatrists and dentists who seek privileges there, and it makes clear that competency documentation rules can sit in any hospital policy, not only in the bylaws. Starting September 1, 2025, a hospital that applies its privileging criteria unevenly would be out of step with state law.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
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
CSSB 1373 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to a hospital's determination to grant, deny, renew, or modify medical staff privileges. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Hughes (30-1) "Nay" Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
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
CSSB 1373 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to a hospital's determination to grant, deny, renew, or modify medical staff privileges. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Hughes (30-1) "Nay" Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
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
CSSB 1373 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to a hospital's determination to grant, deny, renew, or modify medical staff privileges. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Hughes (30-1) "Nay" Hughes
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.
Witnesses8
For
3
Against
5
On
0
Names
For
Self; Texas Podiatric Medical Association2 registrations
Texas Podiatric Medical Association1 registration
Against
DHR Health1 registration
Self; Texas Medical Association1 registration
Texas Chapter American College of Physicians1 registration
Texas Hospital Association1 registration
Texas Orthopaedic Association1 registration
Sources
8 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
89R8844 MPF-D
By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo
S.B. No. 1373
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the process by which a hospital makes certain
determinations regarding medical staff privileges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 241.101, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (g) to
read as follows:
(c-1) The process used to determine whether to grant or deny
medical staff privileges or to renew or modify medical staff
privileges must be an objective process during which criteria
adopted by the hospital for that purpose are applied in a consistent
manner to each person requesting medical staff privileges or the
renewal or modification of medical staff privileges.
(g) A hospital's [ bylaw ] requirements for staff privileges ,
including requirements contained in the hospital's bylaws or any
other hospital policy, may require a physician, podiatrist, or
dentist to document the person's current clinical competency and
professional training and experience in the medical procedures for
which privileges are requested.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring