HB 537

Bucy Bill Makes Health Plans Cover GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity medications.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Private plans, state employee and teacher plans, and Medicaid must pay. Starts January 1, 2028.

The bill requires health plans that cover prescription drugs to also cover GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs used to treat obesity. It reaches private insurers and HMOs, the state employee and teacher health plans, and the state Medicaid program, including Medicaid managed care. Starting with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, these plans must pay for these weight-loss drugs, and state agencies may hold off on any part that needs federal approval until they get it.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R HB 2412 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB537 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

ITEM

relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity medications.

WHAT IT DOES

Private plans, state employee and teacher plans, and Medicaid must pay. Starts January 1, 2028.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 9, 2026Filed

FILED UNDER

BIG PHARMA'S BILL

THE TEXT

…“must provide coverage for a prescription drug that is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist to treat obesity”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill makes health plans cover one class of prescription obesity drugs, a coverage mandate for a specific drug type sold through the prescription channel.

MEDICAID EXPANSION

THE TEXT

“the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid managed care program operated under Chapter 540, Government Code”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill adds GLP-1 obesity drug coverage as a new benefit in Medicaid and in the state-funded employee and teacher health plans.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

John H. Bucy III

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56KAdam Loewy$20,000Texas Sands PAC$17K

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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 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$56,000.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $31,000.00
Total: $56,000.00

consulting $31,000.00

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 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Adam Loewy$20,000.00

Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash: $17,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Money

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

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $31,000.00
Total: $56,000.00

consulting $31,000.00

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 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash: $17,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

89R HB 2412

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 17, 2025: Referred to Insurance

Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity medications.

Caption, 89R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:34 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

Human Services--Medical Assistance

Insurance--Health & Accident

Retirement Systems--State Employees

Retirement Systems--Teachers

Text

The text as introduced · 393 words

90R690 SCF-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 537

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity

medications.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter R to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER R. COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN OBESITY MEDICATIONS

Sec. 1369.781. 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

issued 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 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 basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;

(2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575;

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

and

(4) the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid

managed care program operated under Chapter 540, Government Code.

Sec. 1369.782. COVERAGE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN OBESITY

MEDICATIONS. A health benefit plan that provides prescription drug

benefits must provide coverage for a prescription drug that is a

glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist to treat obesity.

SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act

a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a

federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,

the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or

authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the

waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 3. Subchapter R, Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, as

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

issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.