JD Key Consulting Logo
Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB1639

Regular Session

Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB1639: Government Affairs Overview

HB1639 mandates the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) to conduct a statistical study linking female firefighter service records with the Texas Cancer Registry. While this bill creates no immediate filing requirement for employers, it establishes the evidentiary foundation for the 2027 Legislature to expand workers' compensation presumptions and employer liability. This impacts municipal fire departments, industrial facilities with private fire brigades, and their insurance carriers.

Rep. Jared Patterson·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Business Impact

Who HB1639 Affects

This legislation has regulatory implications for the following Texas businesses and organizations:

Regulatory Priority: low

Standard regulatory changes (effective 2025-06-20). Review during normal business planning.

🏥

Healthcare

Affected business types:

  • Hospitals
  • Healthcare systems
  • Medical practices
  • Health insurance providers
View all healthcare legislation

Key Operational Considerations

  • 1Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): Expect labor representatives to leverage the *existence* of this study to demand enhanced cancer screening benefits in current negotiations.

Estimated Cost Impact

lowMinimal cost impact anticipated.

Enforcing Agencies

Need Government Relations Support?

JD Key Consulting provides government affairs and regulatory strategy services. We help businesses navigate Texas agencies, understand legislative impacts, and advocate for their interests.

Need Help Navigating This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting provides strategic guidance on Texas regulatory compliance and legislative impact for your business.

HB1639
Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.
Low Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote141 - 7
YEA
95% in favor148 voting
Senate Vote28 - 3
YEA
90% in favor31 voting
10
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
DSHSTCFP
Primary Author: Rep. Jared Patterson
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2026 (Agency deadline to publish report). Employers must ensure data accuracy immediately to influence the study's validity.
  • Agency Rulemaking: DSHS is not explicitly required to write new rules for employers, but may issue data calls if current registries are deemed insufficient. Monitor the *Texas Register* through Q4 2025 for methodology announcements.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit TCFP Rosters: Immediately verify the accuracy of gender and service duration data submitted to the Commission.
  • Brief Labor Counsel: Inform your legal team that a state-sanctioned evidentiary basis for expanded cancer presumptions is under development.
  • Review Reserves: Self-insured entities should consult actuaries regarding potential liability spikes in 2027 based on breast and ovarian cancer claims.
  • Monitor Rulemaking: Set alerts for DSHS announcements regarding "HB1639 Data Methodology" to challenge any scientifically flawed data aggregation methods.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): Expect labor representatives to leverage the *existence* of this study to demand enhanced cancer screening benefits in current negotiations.
  • Vendor Indemnification: Review contracts with private fire protection vendors. Ensure indemnification clauses cover long-latency occupational disease claims, as this study may trigger retroactive litigation.

Hiring/Training

  • Data Classification: HR and Compliance Officers must ensure all female personnel (active and separated) are correctly classified in reports to TCFP. Misclassification now will result in skewed state data, potentially inflating the calculated cancer risk profile for your industry.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Data Integrity Audit: There is no new form to file today. However, you must audit the data you currently feed into the TCFP roster and Texas Cancer Registry. The study relies on "readily available" data; if your historical reporting is sloppy, the state's conclusions regarding cancer rates in your workforce will be flawed.
  • Privacy Protocols: Prepare legal protocols for potential data sharing. If DSHS requests supplemental personnel health records, ensure compliance with HIPAA and state privacy laws before release.

Fees & Costs

  • Insurance Premiums: No direct state fee. However, self-insured entities and carriers should anticipate actuarial adjustments. If the 2026 report confirms high cancer incidence, premiums for workers' compensation and liability policies will likely rise in FY 2027.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Readily Available Sources": The statute directs agencies to use existing data. It is unclear if DSHS will distinguish between career, volunteer, and industrial firefighters. Conflating these groups could result in inaccurate risk assessments for private industrial employers (e.g., petrochemical plants) compared to municipal departments.
  • Data Sufficiency: If the agencies determine current data is statistically insignificant, they may attempt to promulgate emergency rules requiring employers to submit retrospective health data.

Need Compliance Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting specializes in Texas regulatory compliance strategy. Work directly with James Dickey—former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas—to understand this bill's impact on your operations and develop an actionable compliance plan.

Schedule a Consultation

Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Dec 16, 2024
Passed House
May 7, 2025
Passed Senate
May 20, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsFire Fighters & PoliceFire Fighters & Police--generalHealthHealth--other Diseases & Medical ConditionsInterim StudiesWomenCancerFire Protection, Texas Commission OnState Health Services, Department of
03

House Authors

Rep. Jared PattersonRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (2)

Senate Sponsors

Sen. Carol AlvaradoDemocrat · Primary Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

Explore more bills from this author and on related topics

More from Rep. Jared Patterson

View all bills by Rep. Jared Patterson

Related by Topic

View more Fire Fighters & Police legislation
Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1639

Q

What does Texas HB1639 do?

HB1639 mandates the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) to conduct a statistical study linking female firefighter service records with the Texas Cancer Registry. While this bill creates no immediate filing requirement for employers, it establishes the evidentiary foundation for the 2027 Legislature to expand workers' compensation presumptions and employer liability. This impacts municipal fire departments, industrial facilities with private fire brigades, and their insurance carriers.

Q

Who authored HB1639?

HB1639 was authored by Texas Representative Jared Patterson during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB1639 signed into law?

HB1639 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB1639?

HB1639 is enforced by Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).

Q

How significant are the changes in HB1639?

The regulatory priority for HB1639 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB1639?

The cost impact of HB1639 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB1639 address?

HB1639 addresses topics including fire fighters & police, fire fighters & police--general, health, health--other diseases & medical conditions and interim studies.

Q

What are the key dates for HB1639?

Key dates for HB1639: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Q

Which Texas businesses are affected by HB1639?

HB1639 primarily affects healthcare providers and medical facilities. These businesses should review the legislation with their legal and compliance teams to understand potential impacts.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026