TX Senate Votes Against Health Coverage as the Clock Ticks for Other Health Bills in the Senate

While the Legislature’s limited conversation on health coverage this session has taken place in the Texas House, the action — or inaction — has now moved to the Senate.

On Monday evening, the Senate voted down an amendment by Sen. Nathan Johnson to draw down billions in federal Medicaid dollars and expand health coverage to uninsured Texas adults. Here’s the official vote count published by the Legislature:

Like the recent House vote, the Senate vote is out of touch with the needs of the state and the two-thirds of Texans who believe Texas should increase health coverage. We’re sorely disappointed with the outcome, but we know we’re making progress — and we’re committed to keeping up the fight.

Other health coverage bills — the bill for kids and the one for new moms — appear to be languishing in the Senate right now, nearly a month after they passed the House:

• The Senate Health and Human Services Committee has not scheduled a hearing for HB 133, which would provide moms with 12 months of health insurance after their pregnancy instead of the current two months.

• HB 290, which would help eligible kids stay enrolled in their health insurance, has not even been referred to the Senate Committee for a hearing yet.

There's still time for the Senate to take action on these bills, but the clock is ticking!

So urge your legislators to help pass HB 290 — which urgently needs to get moving — to support healthy kids!

Thank you for keeping the pressure on our state leaders to ensure that Texans have the health coverage we need!