Monitoring the Session

SB 922

Hancock Bill’s Three-Day Hold On Cancer Results Has No Teeth

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Sen. Kelly HancockRSenate 9
Why it's charged
The hole

THE TEXT

“A person is not subject to civil, criminal, or administrative liability or professional disciplinary action for failure to comply with Section 159.006(d)(2) or this section.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill writes a three-day hold on electronic release of sensitive results, then exempts everyone from any consequence for ignoring it. Every violation, including the ordinary case of a portal that posts results right away, escapes enforcement.

The hole

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Portal posts results right away? Nobody faces liability or discipline. The hold is voluntary.

The bill bars cancer-related pathology or radiology reports and genetic test results from being posted to a patient's online portal or health app until the third day after the results are finalized. It reaches physicians, patients and their representatives, and whoever runs a patient's electronic health record. The same bill says no one faces civil, criminal, or administrative liability or professional discipline for breaking the new delay rule, so in practice the three-day hold is voluntary.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1467 (Vetoed). 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-SB922 · 2025-01-24

SOLD BY

Sen. Kelly HancockRSenate 9

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means.

WHAT IT DOES

Portal posts results right away? Nobody faces liability or discipline. The hold is voluntary.

The bill bars cancer-related pathology or radiology reports and genetic test results from being posted to a patient's online portal or health app until the third day after the results are finalized. It reaches physicians, patients and their representatives, and whoever runs a patient's electronic health record. The same bill says no one faces civil, criminal, or administrative liability or professional discipline for breaking the new delay rule, so in practice the three-day hold is voluntary.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 65%

THE TEXT

“A person is not subject to civil, criminal, or administrative liability or professional disciplinary action for failure to comply with Section 159.006(d)(2) or this section.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill writes a three-day hold on electronic release of sensitive results, then exempts everyone from any consequence for ignoring it. Every violation, including the ordinary case of a portal that posts results right away, escapes enforcement.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 28, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Health & Human Services
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Co-author authorized
  16. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  17. Record vote
  18. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote
  20. Three day rule suspended
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the Senate
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Public Health
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  31. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  32. Committee report distributed
  33. Committee report sent to Calendars
  34. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 1699
  35. Read 2nd time
  36. Passed to 3rd reading
  37. Record vote RV#1382
  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote RV#1482
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. House passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 112 yea · 34 nay

Senate · 25 yea · 6 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 3, 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

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.

Votes6

House May 6, 2025

Yea
112
Nay
34
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1482

SB 922 was passed by (Record 1482): 112 Yeas, 34 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 112 (published)
  • Nay: 34 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 5, 2025

Yea
100
Nay
33
Present, not voting
2
Absent
12
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1382

SB 922 was passed to third reading by (Record 1382): 100 Yeas, 33 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 100 (published)
  • Nay: 33 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 12 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 3, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 3, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hancock moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 922 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 3, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 3, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hancock moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 922 at this time on its second reading: SB 922, Relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses19
For
16
Against
2
On
1
Names

For

  • Cicero Action1 registration
  • National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals1 registration
  • Self5 registrations
  • Self; Texas Medical Association1 registration
  • Texas Academy of Family Physicians1 registration
  • Texas Coalition for Patients1 registration
  • Texas e-Health Alliance1 registration
  • Texas Health Resources1 registration
  • Texas Hospital Association1 registration
  • Texas Medical Association1 registration
  • Texas Orthopaedic Association1 registration
  • Texas Society of Pathologists1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations

On

  • Self; Texas Right To Know1 registration
Sources

19 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 E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 28, 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 SB 1467

by Sen. Hancock, same lead author · Vetoed · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Jun 18, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor

Relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 24, 2025

05/19/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Donna CampbellRSenate 25
Sponsors
Caroline FairlyRHouse 87 Ann JohnsonDHouse 134 James FrankRHouse 69 Donna HowardDHouse 48 Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 9 aye, 2 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 1699 by Fairly (very similar)

Subjects

Electronic Information Systems

Health--Privacy/Use of Information

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

BLOOD & MEDICAL TESTS

Text

The text as introduced · 421 words

89R3443 RAL-F

By: Hancock
S.B. No. 922

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by

electronic means.

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

SECTION 1. Section 159.006(d), Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) A physician shall provide the information requested

under this section :

(1) not later than the 15th business day after the date

of receipt of the written consent for release under Subsection (a)

or the written request under Subsection (c) ; and

(2) in accordance with Section 159.0062(b), if

applicable .

SECTION 2. Chapter 159, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Section 159.0062 to read as follows:

Sec. 159.0062. SENSITIVE TEST RESULTS DISCLOSED BY

ELECTRONIC MEANS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Electronic health record" has the meaning

assigned by Section 525.0201, Government Code.

(2) "Electronic means" means publishing information

on a secure electronic network or Internet website, including a

secure online patient portal or health software application:

(A) that is accessible by an electronic device,

including a computer, mobile device, or tablet; and

(B) through which the patient or patient

representative has consented to receive the patient's billing or

medical records.

(3) "Patient representative" means a person described

by Sections 159.005(a)(2)-(4).

(4) "Sensitive test result" means a:

(A) pathology report or radiology report that has

a reasonable likelihood of showing a finding of malignancy; or

(B) test result that may reveal a genetic marker.

(b) Sensitive test results may not be disclosed to a patient

or patient representative by electronic means before the third day

after the date the sensitive test results are finalized.

(c) A person who administers or controls the electronic

health record of a patient is responsible for implementing

Subsection (b).

(d) A person is not subject to civil, criminal, or

administrative liability or professional disciplinary action for

failure to comply with Section 159.006(d)(2) or this section.

SECTION 3. Section 159.0062, Occupations Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to the disclosure of test results on or after

the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. Section 159.006, Occupations Code, as amended by

this Act, applies to a request for information under that section

made on or after the effective date of this Act. A request made

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in

effect on the date the request was made, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.