A new bill authored by State Rep. Metcalf in the Texas House seeks to mandate coverage of medically necessary anesthesia during dental procedures for young children with documented health needs, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Taxation category, introduced as HB 261 during the 89(2) legislative session on Tuesday, Aug. 19, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of certain commercial real property for ad valorem tax purposes’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill adds Subchapter G to Chapter 1367 of the Texas Insurance Code, mandating that health benefit plans covering medically necessary general anesthesia services cannot exclude these services when related to dental procedures for individuals under 13 who require anesthesia due to documented physical, mental, or medical reasons. However, the bill does not require the plans to cover dental care or procedures themselves. This legislation applies to a wide range of health plans, including those offered by insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and various coverage types under specific chapters. The provisions will only affect plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, with the bill becoming effective on Sept. 1, 2025.
Will Metcalf, the chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism, proposed another three bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on State Affairs and the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(2) | HB 260 | 08/19/2025 | Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of certain commercial real property for ad valorem tax purposes |
| 89(2) | HB 224 | 08/18/2025 | Relating to youth camp emergency preparedness plans |
| 89(2) | HB 166 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to the elimination of school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes and the creation of a joint interim committee on the elimination of those taxes |
| 89(1) | HB 222 | 07/29/2025 | Relating to the management and removal of vegetation and debris by certain electric utilities |
| 89(1) | HB 169 | 07/22/2025 | Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of certain commercial real property for ad valorem tax purposes |
| 89(1) | HB 168 | 07/22/2025 | Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of certain commercial real property for ad valorem tax purposes |
| 89(R) | HB 5686 | 04/23/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Management District No. 3; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5654 | 03/24/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 263; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5652 | 03/20/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 258; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5651 | 03/19/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District No. 7; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5458 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a study of the effectiveness of rules implemented by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department governing the management of chronic wasting disease and of cervid resistance to chronic wasting disease |
| 89(R) | HB 5347 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the construction of nontolled frontage roads adjacent to certain toll projects |
| 89(R) | HB 5346 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the cessation of tolls by toll project entities in certain circumstances |
| 89(R) | HB 5032 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the display of certain historical state documents |
| 89(R) | HB 5006 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to recommendations for the appointment of directors of the San Jacinto River Authority |
| 89(R) | HB 5005 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the election of the board of directors of the San Jacinto River Authority |
| 89(R) | HB 5004 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to approval by voters prior to the issuance of revenue bonds by the San Jacinto River Authority |
| 89(R) | HB 4864 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of a person to serve as an arbitrator in a binding arbitration of an appeal of an appraisal review board order |
| 89(R) | HB 34 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the investment of state money in certain countries and in certain private business entities in those countries |
| 89(R) | HB 4584 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction of electric generating facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 4578 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the titling, registration, and operation of a miniature vehicle |
| 89(R) | HB 4574 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to required notice of an appeal to the commissioner of education regarding certain actions or decisions by a school district |
| 89(R) | HB 4534 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to certain death benefits for certain public safety officers under public retirement systems |
| 89(R) | HB 4439 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to creating the Governor’s Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 4370 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the projects undertaken by a public improvement district, municipal management district, water control and improvement district, fresh water supply district, or municipal utility district |
| 89(R) | HB 4365 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to training requirements for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district |
| 89(R) | HB 4302 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the recovery of vegetation management costs by electric utilities |
| 89(R) | HB 4254 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to appeal of a mistrial order in a felony case |
| 89(R) | HB 4247 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for destruction of a flag |
| 89(R) | HB 4230 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the establishment of a hike and bike trail to be known as the Bicentennial Trail |
| 89(R) | HB 4229 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the use of proceeds from the sale of saltwater fishing stamps issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department |
| 89(R) | HB 4187 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the authority and responsibilities of the Texas Historical Commission; authorizing fees |
| 89(R) | HB 4055 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to excepting certain fiber-optic cable projects from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land |
| 89(R) | HB 3887 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the requirement for performance and payment bonds from certain contractors of the Parks and Wildlife Department |
| 89(R) | HB 3816 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to prosecution of the criminal offense of cruelty to livestock animals |
| 89(R) | HB 3636 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the payment of restitution by a person released on parole or to mandatory supervision |
| 89(R) | HB 3634 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America |
| 89(R) | HB 3471 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the permissible uses of money attributable to the historic infrastructure sustainability trust fund |
| 89(R) | HB 3470 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the administration of assessment instruments in public schools, eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation, and the temporary suspension of certain accountability determinations for a school district or campus in a school year in which the operations of the district or campus are disrupted as a result of a declared disaster |
| 89(R) | HB 3375 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the filing of a campaign treasurer appointment and an application for a place on the ballot by a candidate for the board of directors of an appraisal district |
| 89(R) | HB 3373 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the provision by school districts of certain records and financial information to the public |
| 89(R) | HB 3372 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to prohibiting certain personal services performed by school district administrators; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3371 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the recovery of certain state border security expenditures from the federal government |
| 89(R) | HB 3292 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to prohibiting ultraprocessed food from being served or sold to students in public schools |
| 89(R) | HB 3230 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to a capacity cost recovery rider for certain electric utilities |
| 89(R) | HB 3226 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to the jurisdiction of statutory probate courts in Montgomery County |
| 89(R) | HB 3204 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, including the college’s eligibility to participate in certain programs |
| 89(R) | HB 3185 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes |
| 89(R) | HB 3064 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the exemption of tangible personal property from ad valorem taxation; making conforming changes |
| 89(R) | HB 2989 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the name, rights, powers, and privileges of the Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District |
