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HB 4882

Relating to newborn or infant testing for congenital cytomegalovirus.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Joanne Shofner

Texas bill mandates congenital cytomegalovirus screening in newborns/infants to enable early treatment and prevent hearing loss and developmental disabilities.

Received from the House
#blood&medicaltests(s0470) #health--otherdiseases&medicalconditions(i0383) #minors--health&safety(i0533) #parentalconsent(s0318) #pregnancy&childbirth(s0294)
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Bill Summary · HB 4882

Legislative bill overview

HB 4882 establishes requirements for newborn and infant screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral infection that can cause hearing loss, vision problems, and developmental delays in infants. The bill mandates testing protocols and reporting procedures to identify affected infants early so they can receive timely treatment and intervention services.

Why is this important

Early detection of congenital CMV enables prompt medical treatment that can prevent or reduce severity of permanent disabilities, particularly hearing loss and developmental delays. Identifying affected infants allows families to access early intervention services during critical developmental windows when outcomes are most favorable.

Potential points of contention

  • Testing methodology and cost: Questions about which testing methods are required, who bears implementation costs (hospitals, state health programs), and whether costs are feasible for all birthing facilities
  • False positives and follow-up: Concerns about identifying asymptomatic cases or false positives that may cause parental anxiety and require additional confirmatory testing and medical resources
  • Reporting and privacy: Balancing disease surveillance data collection with patient privacy protections and potential discrimination concerns for affected families

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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