Rep. Donna Howard introduced HB 5142, a bill on Property Interests, to the Texas House on Thursday, March 13 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 the authority of the Department of State Health Services to lease certain real property’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to allow the Department of State Health Services, in coordination with the executive commissioner, to lease real property or improvements on the Austin State Hospital campus for less than the prevailing market rate, without the need for advertisement or competitive bidding. This can occur if the executive commissioner determines that the property is not being used by the department. Additionally, the property must be leased to a local government unit and used to provide mental health services, including jail diversion services. The act is set to take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Donna Howard, the vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Article II and the vice chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, proposed another 66 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Howard graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA.
Donna Howard is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 48th House district. She replaced previous state representative Todd Baxter in 2006.
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 5141 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the lease of certain state property from the Department of State Health Services to Travis County |
| HB 4303 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Texas First Generation Matching Grant Program for certain students at public institutions of higher education |
| HB 4277 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to scholarly research and grant applications at public institutions of higher education |
| HB 4267 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the submission by law enforcement agencies to certain public school personnel of a handle with care notice concerning a traumatic event experienced by a public school student and to certain required training regarding those notices |
| HB 4121 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the eligibility for and provision of benefits under Medicaid or the child health plan program for certain individuals committed, placed, or detained in certain facilities and settings |
| HB 4120 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to allowing certain inmates to apply for benefits under certain public benefits programs to be provided at the time of discharge or release |
| HB 4119 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to interagency sharing of certain information related to individuals disenrolled from Medicaid |
| HB 4118 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the payment of an award for certain health care expenses under the Crime Victims’ Compensation Act |
| HB 4117 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the development of a strategic plan for home and community-based services provided under Medicaid and the child health plan program and the establishment of an advisory committee on home and community-based services |
| HB 4071 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to certain duties of the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in relation to the reporting and publication of nursing program clinical site data |
| HB 3880 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to nursing rooms provided by public employers |
| HB 3767 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to money awarded to providers of women’s health services and family planning services, including the repeal of prohibitions on the provision of those services |
| HB 3668 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to authorization for a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for whether an additional restriction on abortion access should be repealed |
| HB 3355 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the approval, selection, and use of an alternative electronic visit verification system under Medicaid |
| HB 3264 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the inclusion of firearm safety instruction in the required health curriculum for public school students |
| HB 3203 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to equipment used or intended for use in testing or analyzing a controlled substance |
| HB 3074 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to sexual assault and other sex offenses |
| HB 3073 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the prosecution of the offense of sexual assault |
| HB 3072 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain women |
| HB 3032 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in coordination with other state agencies on the feasibility of developing clinical sites for nursing students |
| HB 3031 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the reapportionment of state legislative, congressional, and judicial districts and the functions and duties of the independent redistricting commission |
| HB 3030 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain state employees |
| HB 3029 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the administration of nonprescription medications to certain public and private school students |
| HB 3020 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to statewide standing orders prescribing epinephrine auto-injectors, medication for respiratory distress, and opioid antagonists to public and private schools |
| HB 2856 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the feasibility of implementing a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements |
| HB 2851 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to including nursing school applications in a consolidated application service |
| HB 2833 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the sales and use tax exemption for health care supplies |
| HB 2830 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to a report by the Legislative Budget Board on the reliance by this state on certain dedicated revenue for purposes of budget certification |
| HB 2421 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the date of dissolution of the Save Historic Muny District |
| HB 2377 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to funding for projects that improve the physical and mental health of public school students and enhance the safety of public schools in this state; authorizing a fee |
| HB 2317 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to a credit for prepayment of the amount required to be paid by a school district for the purchase of attendance credit under the public school finance system |
| HB 2276 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to the provision of certain benefits, including applied behavior analysis, behavior supports, and associated evaluation services, through telecommunications or information technology under certain public benefits programs |
| HB 2190 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to immunity from criminal liability for certain health care practitioners |
| HB 2189 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to methods to improve health profession-related career and technology education and dual credit programs offered by public schools |
| HB 2188 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the transition of the nurse aide certification program from the Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Board of Nursing and the creation of a workgroup on nursing career pathways |
| HB 2187 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to hospital staffing report and complaint processes and to retaliation and mandatory overtime protections for nurses |
| HB 2074 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to allowing a person who will be 18 years of age on the date of the general election for state and county officers to vote in the preceding primary elections |
| HB 2056 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the designation of a public school health officer and the school health and safety allotment under the Foundation School Program |
| HB 2023 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the coverage of emergency contraceptive drugs by health benefit plans |
| HB 1949 | 01/17/2025 | Relating to public notice of a crematory’s compliance history, rating, and classification |
| HB 1948 | 01/17/2025 | Relating to the prescribing and ordering of Schedule II controlled substances by certain advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants |
| HB 1787 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the establishment of a higher education plan for human papillomavirus education and prevention |
| HB 1786 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the women’s health advisory committee |
| HB 1782 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to eligibility for Medicaid for breast and cervical cancer |
| HB 1775 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to reporting information regarding certain evidence collection kits |
| HB 1656 | 12/18/2024 | Relating to emergency detention by a paramedic of certain persons with mental illness for preliminary examination at a mental health facility |
| HB 1531 | 12/05/2024 | Relating to the definition of facility for purposes of workplace violence prevention requirements |
| HB 1442 | 11/21/2024 | Relating to the Internet broadcast or recording of certain open meetings |
| HB 1330 | 11/14/2024 | Relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education is entitled to an academic fresh start |
| HB 897 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to authorizing the sale or lease by the State of Texas of certain real property located in Austin, Texas |
