Archives

Home Health Oversight and Protection — eliminates so-called “right to correct” plans for Home and Community Services Agencies (HCSSAs) found to exhibit chronic, substandard quality of care violations. The bill also directs HHSC to develop progressive sanctions based on the scope and severity of violations, with increased financial penalties for the most serious violations.

Long-Term Care Oversight and Protection — eliminates so-called “right to correct” plans for long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes, assisted living centers, and intermediate care facilities) found to exhibit chronic, substandard quality of care violations. The bill also directs HHSC to develop progressive sanctions based on the scope and severity of violations, with increased…

Requires the Texas Medical Board to create an expedited licensure process to allow out-of-state psychiatrists to treat Texas patients in need of care.

Ending Land-Use Tax Penalty — eliminates the 7% interest penalty assessed on taxes owed by farmers and ranchers when they convert their property from an agricultural or open-space designation to another use.

Actual Progress Reform — strengthens existing “Landowner’s Bill of Rights” protections which allow landowners the right to repurchase property seized through eminent domain unless the condemning entity can demonstrate “actual progress” on the project within a defined period of time.

Informed Survey Notice — provides landowners with increased disclosure of existing survey-related rights, including the right to negotiate survey terms and recover damages caused by survey, as well as the landowner’s right to refuse access to their property without a court order.

Two Clear Offers — requires a condemning authority to specify which parcel of a landowner’s property is needed for a desired project and which is not subject to condemnation, requiring separate compensation offers for each.

Raises the total revenue exemption on the state’s business franchise tax from $1 million to $4 million, providing substantial tax relief for tens of thousands of Texas businesses.

Texas Optometry Board (Sunset Bill)- Proposes a number of conforming changes to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, updates the licensing process, strengthens enforcement actions, and reforms the governing structure of the board.

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (Sunset Bill) -Strengthens standards for the administration of parenteral dental anesthesia, reduces the size of the board from 15 to 11 members, and improves licensing and enforcement standards.