SB 896: newborn enrollment window doubles to 60 days

Caption

relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain employer health benefit plans.

Summary

Up from 31 days after birth.

The bill doubles the window parents have to enroll a newborn in their employer health plan, from 31 days after birth to 60 days. It covers small employer plans, large employer plans, and multiple employer welfare arrangements. Automatic newborn coverage now runs 60 days instead of 31, and families keep it if the plan gets notice of the birth and any extra premium within that time, starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 687 by Rep. Cole (Did not pass). 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-SB896 · 2025-01-24

SOLD BY

Sen. César BlancoDSenate 29

ITEM

relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain employer health benefit plans.

WHAT IT DOES

Up from 31 days after birth.

The bill doubles the window parents have to enroll a newborn in their employer health plan, from 31 days after birth to 60 days. It covers small employer plans, large employer plans, and multiple employer welfare arrangements. Automatic newborn coverage now runs 60 days instead of 31, and families keep it if the plan gets notice of the birth and any extra premium within that time, starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 20, 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

Jan 24, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 24, 2025Filed
Feb 13, 2025Read first time
Feb 13, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
Mar 11, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 11, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 11, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 18, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 18, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 24, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 24, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 24, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Mar 25, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Mar 26, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Mar 26, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Mar 26, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Mar 26, 2025Three day rule suspended
Mar 26, 2025Record vote
Mar 26, 2025Read 3rd time
Mar 26, 2025Passed
Mar 26, 2025Record vote
Mar 26, 2025Reported engrossed
Mar 27, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 9, 2025Read first time
Apr 9, 2025Referred to Insurance
Apr 30, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 30, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 30, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 30, 2025Left pending in committee
May 2, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 2, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 6, 2025Committee report distributed
May 7, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 16, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 20, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 20, 2025Read 2nd time
May 20, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 20, 2025Record vote RV#3095
May 21, 2025Read 3rd time
May 21, 2025Passed
May 21, 2025Record vote RV#3144
May 21, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 21, 2025House passage reported
May 22, 2025Reported enrolled
May 22, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 22, 2025Signed in the House
May 22, 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 · 130 yea · 14 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 21, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 26, 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

César Blanco

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$26K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25K Border Health PAC$25K

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 10, 2024 to Jun 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.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$25,750.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$25,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $750.00
Total: $25,750.00

consulting $750.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Dec 13, 2024. 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: 100989095.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 3, 2024 to Jan 26, 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: 100989095, 101009709, 101033590, 101060872.

Border Health PAC$25,000.00

Border Health PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. 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: 100989095.

Money

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

×

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$25,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $750.00
Total: $25,750.00

consulting $750.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Dec 13, 2024. 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: 100989095.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 3, 2024 to Jan 26, 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: 100989095, 101009709, 101033590, 101060872.

×

Border Health PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. 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: 100989095.

Votes5

House May 21, 2025

Yea: 130
Nay: 14
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 2
Excused: 2

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3144

SB 896 was passed by (Record 3144): 130 Yeas, 14 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 130 (published)
Nay: 14 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 20, 2025

Yea: 142
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 3
Excused: 4

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3095

SB 896 was passed to third reading by (Record 3095): 142 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 142 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 26, 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 Blanco moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 896 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 Mar 26, 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 Blanco moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 896 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 Mar 26, 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.

Witnesses23

For: 21
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

Children's Hospital Association of Texas1 registration
Children’s Hospital Association of Texas1 registration
Dallas County1 registration
Dallas County Commissioners Court1 registration
El Paso County1 registration
Every Texan1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Methodist Healthcare Ministries2 registrations
National Association of Benefits & Insurance Professionals, Texas Chapter1 registration
Self; Every Body Texas1 registration
Texans Care for Children2 registrations
Texas Academy of Family Physicians1 registration
Texas association of community health centers1 registration
Texas Coalition for Patients1 registration
Texas Hospital Association1 registration
Texas Pediatric Society2 registrations
Texas Women's Healthcare Coalition1 registration
Texas Womens Healthcare Coalition1 registration

On

TDI1 registration
Texas Department of Insurance1 registration

Sources

23 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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 20, 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 687

by Rep. Cole, different lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 24, 2023: Removed from local & uncontested calendar

Relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain employer health benefit plans.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 24, 2025

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.

Companion

HB 1101 by Cole (identical)

Subjects

Health--Children's Insurance

Insurance--Health & Accident

Text

The text as introduced · 368 words

89R1818 CJD-D

By: Blanco
S.B. No. 896

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain

employer health benefit plans.

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

SECTION 1. Section 846.258(b), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a participating employee

under this section ends on the 61st [ 32nd ] day after the date of the

child's birth unless:

(1) children are eligible for coverage under the

multiple employer welfare arrangement's plan document; and

(2) not later than the 60th [ 31st ] day after the date

of birth, the arrangement receives:

(A) notice of the birth; and

(B) any required additional premium.

SECTION 2. Section 1501.157(b), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under

this section ends on the 61st [ 32nd ] day after the date of the

child's birth unless, not later than the 60th [ 31st ] day after the

date of birth, the small employer health benefit plan issuer

receives:

(1) notice of the birth; and

(2) any required additional premium.

SECTION 3. Section 1501.607(b), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under

this section ends on the 61st [ 32nd ] day after the date of the

child's birth unless:

(1) children are eligible for coverage under the large

employer health benefit plan; and

(2) not later than the 60th [ 31st ] day after the date

of birth, the large employer health benefit plan issuer receives:

(A) notice of the birth; and

(B) any required additional premium.

SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or

renewed on or after January 1, 2026. A health benefit plan that is

delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2026,

is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the

effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for

that purpose.

SECTION 5. 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

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Border Health PAC

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Border Health PAC

House May 21, 2025

House May 20, 2025

Senate Mar 26, 2025

Senate Mar 26, 2025

Senate Mar 26, 2025

For

On

88R HB 687

Companion