SB 527: insurers cover anesthesia for kids’ dental work under 13

Caption

relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in connection with certain pediatric dental services.

Summary

Plans that already cover general anesthesia can’t refuse it.

This bill bars health insurance plans that already cover general anesthesia from refusing to cover medically necessary general anesthesia for dental work on children under 13. It applies to children who cannot get the dental work done without anesthesia because of a documented physical, mental, or medical reason, and only when a qualified anesthesia provider does the work. Starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, families of these children can get the anesthesia covered, though the plan still does not have to cover the dental work itself.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3524 by Rep. Ann Johnson (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.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB527 · 2024-12-05

SOLD BY

Sen. Charles SchwertnerRSenate 5

+ 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in connection with certain pediatric dental services.

WHAT IT DOES

Plans that already cover general anesthesia can’t refuse it.

This bill bars health insurance plans that already cover general anesthesia from refusing to cover medically necessary general anesthesia for dental work on children under 13. It applies to children who cannot get the dental work done without anesthesia because of a documented physical, mental, or medical reason, and only when a qualified anesthesia provider does the work. Starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, families of these children can get the anesthesia covered, though the plan still does not have to cover the dental work itself.

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 · April 7, 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

Dec 5, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Dec 5, 2024Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
Apr 9, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 9, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 9, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 9, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 15, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 16, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 16, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 16, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Apr 16, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 16, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 22, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 23, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 28, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 28, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 28, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 28, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 28, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 28, 2025Record vote
Apr 28, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 28, 2025Passed
Apr 28, 2025Record vote
Apr 28, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 29, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 30, 2025Read first time
Apr 30, 2025Referred to Insurance
May 7, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 7, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 7, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 7, 2025Left pending in committee
May 20, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 20, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 22, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 22, 2025Committee report distributed
May 23, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 23, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 25, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 27, 2025Read 2nd time
May 27, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 27, 2025Record vote RV#3810
May 27, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Read 3rd time
May 28, 2025Passed
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3908
May 28, 2025House passage reported
May 28, 2025Reported enrolled
May 30, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 111 yea · 28 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 28, 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

Charles Schwertner

Donors

Donors report through Texans for Charles Schwertner.

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 · Jul 1, 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.

Money

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

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 111
Nay: 28
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 2
Excused: 7

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3908

SB 527 was passed by (Record 3908): 111 Yeas, 28 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 111 (published)
Nay: 28 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea: 108
Nay: 19
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 19
Excused: 3

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3810

SB 527 was passed to third reading by (Record 3810): 108 Yeas, 19 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 108 (published)
Nay: 19 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 19 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 28, 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 Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 527 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 Apr 28, 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 Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 527 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 Apr 28, 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 engrossment 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.

Witnesses24

For: 23
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Autism Speaks1 registration
Self; Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry1 registration
Self; Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry & Texas Dental Association1 registration
Self; Texas academy of pediatric dentistry, Texas Dental Assoc,1 registration
Self; Texas academy of pediatric dentistry, texas dental association1 registration
Self; Texas Society of Anesthesiologists2 registrations
Self; Texas Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists1 registration
Texas Academy of General Dentistry2 registrations
Texas Coalition for Patients1 registration
Texas Dental Association2 registrations
Texas Hospital Association2 registrations
Texas Medical Association1 registration
Texas Pediatric Society2 registrations
Texas Society of Anesthesiologists1 registration
Texas Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists1 registration
TPEA1 registration

On

Texas Department of Insurance1 registration

Sources

24 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 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 3524

by Rep. Ann Johnson, different lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 4, 2023: Referred to Health & Human Services

Relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in connection with certain pediatric dental services.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Dec 5, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

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

Coauthors

César BlancoDSenate 29

Molly CookDSenate 15

Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20

José MenéndezDSenate 26

Companion

HB 261 by Gervin-Hawkins (identical)

HB 3942 by Oliverson (identical)

Subjects

Health--Children's Insurance

Insurance--Health & Accident

Minors--Health & Safety

ANESTHESIA

DENTAL SERVICES

Text

The text as introduced · 476 words

89R1426 CJD-F

By: Schwertner
S.B. No. 527

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in

connection with certain pediatric dental services.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G. PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Sec. 1367.301. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This

subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides

benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a

health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual,

group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance

agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or

group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is

offered by:

(1) an insurance company;

(2) a group hospital service corporation operating

under Chapter 842;

(3) a health maintenance organization operating under

Chapter 843;

(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that

holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;

(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds

a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;

(6) a stipulated premium insurance company operating

under Chapter 884;

(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under

Chapter 885;

(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or

(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies

to:

(1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to

Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group

cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter;

(2) a standard health benefit plan issued under

Chapter 1507;

(3) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;

(4) a basic plan under Chapter 1575;

(5) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;

(6) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter

1601;

(7) a regional or local health care program operated

under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code; and

(8) a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a

professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code.

Sec. 1367.302. COVERAGE FOR GENERAL ANESTHESIA. Subject to

Section 1360.005, a health benefit plan that provides coverage for

general anesthesia may not exclude from coverage medically

necessary general anesthesia services in connection with dental

services provided to a covered individual if:

(1) the individual is:

(A) younger than 13 years of age; and

(B) unable to undergo the dental service without

general anesthesia due to a documented physical, mental, or medical

reason; and

(2) the anesthesia is performed by a qualified

provider of anesthesia services.

Sec. 1367.303. COVERAGE NOT REQUIRED. This subchapter does

not require a health benefit plan to provide coverage for dental

care or procedures.

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, as

added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan that is

delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1,

2026.

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

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

House May 28, 2025

House May 27, 2025

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Senate Apr 28, 2025

For

On

88R HB 3524

Companion