Rep. John Bucy III introduced HB 2528, a bill on Insurance, to the Texas House on Thursday, Feb. 6 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to health benefit plan coverage of prescription drugs for opioid and substance use disorders’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill mandates that health benefit plans cover medication-assisted treatments for opioid or substance use disorders, such as methadone and naltrexone, without requiring prior authorization except to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Applicable to various types of health plans, including those by insurance companies and health service corporations, this legislation does not extend to Medicaid or the child health plan program. The new regulations will only affect plans delivered, issued, or renewed starting Jan. 1, 2026. The law, effective Sept. 1, 2025, intends to improve access to necessary treatments for individuals with substance use disorders.
John Bucy III, the vice chair of the House Committee on Elections and the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on Disease Prevention & Women’s & Children’s Health, proposed another 71 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Local & Consent Calendars and a member of the House Committee on Public Health.
IIII graduated from Austin College in 2006 with a BA.
John Bucy IIII is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 136th House district. He replaced previous state representative Tony Dale in 2019.
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.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB 2490 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees |
| HB 2442 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail |
| HB 2441 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the delivery and direct shipment of malt beverages to ultimate consumers; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 2412 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity medications |
| HB 2398 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the governance of property owners’ associations |
| HB 2261 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to the hours for the sale or delivery of certain alcoholic beverages |
| HB 2083 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the use of automatic license plate reader systems |
| HB 2082 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to ensuring access to the right to vote by all eligible voters |
| HB 2081 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education |
| HB 2016 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the housing Texas fund to be administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
| HB 1999 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of certain persons for the supplemental nutrition assistance program and financial assistance benefits |
| HB 1917 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter, the electronic transmission of a ballot to a voter voting early by mail, and the repeal of certain criminal offenses concerning the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail |
| HB 1813 | 01/10/2025 | Relating to a parental right to information concerning a public school special education program and certain requirements for persons serving as special education representatives and hearing officers at impartial due process hearings; authorizing a fee |
| HB 1797 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to drug testing and prescription drug policies for employees and independent contractors of state agencies and political subdivisions regarding the medical use of low-THC cannabis and hemp |
| HB 1796 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to the expedited credentialing of providers under the Medicaid managed care program |
| HB 1791 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the duties of a prescriber issuing an opioid prescription to treat acute pain |
| HB 1790 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to criminal penalties and defenses to prosecution for certain drug possession and drug paraphernalia offenses |
| HB 1785 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of a person who is homeless to take the high school equivalency examination |
| HB 1784 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to measures to assist students enrolled at public institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are or were in foster care |
| HB 1780 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail |
| HB 1779 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to regulation of accessory dwelling units by political subdivisions |
| HB 1660 | 12/18/2024 | Relating to the licensing of certain education professionals as licensed specialists in school psychology |
| HB 1604 | 12/12/2024 | Relating to public access to criminal proceedings |
| HB 1569 | 12/10/2024 | Relating to the eligibility of certain children of classroom teachers for enrollment in a free prekindergarten program |
| HB 1439 | 11/21/2024 | Relating to early voting by mail |
| HB 1426 | 11/20/2024 | Relating to a prohibition on the issuance or enforcement of a search warrant, subpoena, or other court order for certain menstrual health data |
| HB 1392 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the postponement of the delinquency date for a payment of ad valorem taxes imposed by a taxing unit if the office of the collector for the taxing unit is closed on the delinquency date |
| HB 1289 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to measures to address student hunger at postsecondary educational institutions |
| HB 744 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to daylight saving time |
| HB 722 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the disclosure of appraisal methods by automobile insurers |
| HB 708 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the sale of distilled spirits to ultimate consumers by the holder of a distiller’s and rectifier’s permit |
| HB 679 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a local option election on the sale of certain alcoholic beverages on Sunday |
| HB 670 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the authority of a taxing unit other than a school district to establish a limitation on the amount of ad valorem taxes that the taxing unit may impose on the residence homesteads of individuals who are disabled or elderly and their surviving spouses |
| HB 665 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of state’s Internet website databases containing certain information about elections |
| HB 657 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to requirements for counties posting election information on an Internet website |
| HB 649 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the electronic transmission of a ballot to a voter voting early by mail on the ground of absence from the county of residence |
| HB 633 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the days and hours during which the polls are open for early voting by personal appearance |
| HB 632 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the regulation of the practice of pharmacy |
| HB 616 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain at-home testing kits |
| HB 614 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the procedures for voting after changing residence to another county |
| HB 590 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to notification by the secretary of state when a person convicted of a felony may register to vote |
| HB 586 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to expedited credentialing for licensed behavior analysts providing services under a managed care plan |
| HB 577 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the notice period for certain evictions |
| HB 569 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to an opportunity to correct certain defects in an early voting ballot voted by mail |
| HB 566 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to required proof of lawful presence in the United States for issuance of a driver’s license |
| HB 555 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral Network |
| HB 542 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the use of certain money transferred to and deposited in the state highway fund as required by the Texas Constitution |
| HB 509 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the authority of certain entities and individuals to prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose of registering voters or communicating political messages |
| HB 505 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the issuance of a certified birth record, driver’s license, or personal identification certificate to a homeless individual |
| HB 486 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibiting the publication of certain criminal record information of individuals involved in the criminal justice system |
