Relating to the confidentiality and reporting of certain maternal mortality information to the Department of State Health Services, to an exception to certain reporting requirements for health care providers reviewing certain information on maternal mortality and morbidity, to the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee members, and to a work group establishing a maternal mortality and morbidity data registry.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Lauren Simmons

Texas bill establishing confidentiality protections for maternal mortality reviews, authorizing committee travel reimbursement, and creating a maternal health data registry work group.

Referred to Public Health

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Legislative bill overview

HB 1989 establishes confidentiality protections for maternal mortality and morbidity data reviewed by Texas health committees, creates exceptions to certain reporting requirements for healthcare providers analyzing this information, authorizes reimbursement of travel expenses for committee members, and establishes a work group to create a maternal mortality and morbidity data registry.

Why is this important

Maternal mortality and morbidity are serious public health concerns, and this bill aims to improve data collection and review processes while protecting sensitive health information. The confidentiality protections may encourage more candid reviews of maternal health incidents without fear of legal liability, while the registry could help identify trends and prevent future deaths or complications.

Potential points of contention

Confidentiality vs. transparency trade-off: Strong confidentiality protections may shield important safety information from public scrutiny and affected families seeking accountability or understanding of what happened

Scope of liability protection: Healthcare providers given exceptions to reporting requirements could potentially avoid accountability for negligence or misconduct if findings are deemed confidential

Data registry implementation: Creating a new registry requires funding and coordination; unclear standards for data collection could limit its effectiveness in identifying systemic problems