Written notice to the patient first, at least 60 days ahead.
The bill requires a health care provider that plans to send a patient's bill to debt collection to first give the patient written notice at least 60 days ahead. It touches health care providers and the patients who owe them for services or supplies. Starting September 1, 2025, patients get a two-month written warning before collection begins on new collection actions.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 143 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 143 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).GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 24, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Public Health committee 9-0, no floor vote.
relating to notice provided by a health care provider before
initiating debt collection against a patient.
WHAT IT DOES
Written notice to the patient first, at least 60 days ahead.
The bill requires a health care provider that plans to send a patient's bill to debt collection to first give the patient written notice at least 60 days ahead. It touches health care providers and the patients who owe them for services or supplies. Starting September 1, 2025, patients get a two-month written warning before collection begins on new collection actions.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
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 final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 1784 (Parker) Relating to notice provided by a health care provider before initiating debt collection against a patient. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
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 suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 1784 (Parker) Relating to notice provided by a health care provider before initiating debt collection against a patient. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
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 1784 (Parker) Relating to notice provided by a health care provider before initiating debt collection against a patient. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
Witnesses16
For
16
Against
0
On
0
Names
For
AARP Texas2 registrations
AARP TX1 registration
Make Texans Healthy Again1 registration
National Association of Benefits & Insurance Professionals, Texas Chapter (NABIP-TX)1 registration
Patient Choice Coalition1 registration
Self; Americans for Prosperity1 registration
Self; Let’s Crush Medical Debt at UT Austin2 registrations
Self; RAISE Texas1 registration
Texas Appleseed1 registration
Texas Association of Business1 registration
Texas Association of Health Plans2 registrations
Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition1 registration
United Ways of Texas1 registration
Sources
16 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
89R15256 AB-D
By: Parker
S.B. No. 1784
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notice provided by a health care provider before
initiating debt collection against a patient.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 185, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 185.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 185.004. REQUIRED NOTICE OF DEBT COLLECTION. A health
care provider that intends to pursue debt collection for a health
care service or supply provided to a patient shall provide written
notice to the patient at least 60 days before the date the provider
initiates debt collection.
SECTION 2. Section 185.004, Health and Safety Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to debt collection initiated on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
