HB1639

Regular Session

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

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Department of State Health Services (DSHS) • Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP)

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.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsFire Fighters & Police Fire Fighters & Police--general Health Health--other Diseases & Medical Conditions Interim Studies Women Cancer Fire Protection, Texas Commission On State Health Services, Department of

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1639

By: Patterson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that due to increased stress and various other factors, such as absorption of toxic chemicals, firefighters face an increased risk of various diseases, specifically increased risks of heart disease and cancer. The bill author has also informed the committee that studies on this topic have typically focused on the male firefighter population stemming from the lack of female firefighters in the fire service. The bill author has further informed the committee that the lack of research into female-related cancers among female firefighters disqualifies these cancers from being presumed under the worker's compensation system. H.B. 1639 seeks to address this issue by providing for a study regarding the increased risk of female-specific cancers amongst female firefighters facilitated by both the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Department of State Health Services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1639 requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and using information from the state cancer registry, to conduct a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in Texas. The bill requires DSHS and TCFP, in conducting the study, to compare cancer rates among female firefighters in Texas to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer, and using registry information and data collected from readily available sources. The bill requires the following actions to be completed not later than September 1, 2026:

·DSHS to prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and

·DSHS and TCFP to make the report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies' and registry's respective websites.

The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Jared PattersonRepublican · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Nicole Collier (D)

Coauthors (2)

Senate Sponsors

Sen. Carol AlvaradoDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Cosponsors (4)

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1639

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female
	firefighters in this state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. (a) In this Act:
	(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire
	Protection.
	(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health
	Services.
	(3) "Registry" means the cancer registry established
	under Chapter 82, Health and Safety Code.
	(b) The department, in collaboration with the commission
	and using registry information, shall conduct a study on the
	increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.
	(c) In conducting the study, the department and commission
	shall, using registry information and data collected from readily
	available sources, compare cancer rates among female firefighters
	in this state to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers
	specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer.
	(d) Not later than September 1, 2026:
	(1) the department shall prepare and submit to the
	legislature a written report containing the results of the study
	and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and
	(2) the department and commission shall make the
	report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies'
	and registry's respective Internet websites.
	(e) This Act expires September 1, 2027.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 13, 2025

TO:	Honorable Gary VanDeaver, Chair, House Committee on Public Health

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1639 by Patterson (Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1639, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($215,970) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026	($215,970)
2027	$0
2028	$0
2029	$0
2030	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026	($215,970)	1.0
2027	$0	0.0
2028	$0	0.0
2029	$0	0.0
2030	$0	0.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) to conduct a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in the state. DSHS would be required to provide a report to the legislature no later than September 1, 2026. The report would be made publicly available on the agencies' and cancer registry's websites.

Methodology

According to DSHS, a temporary 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Epidemiologist IV position would be needed to prepare and submit a written report to the legislature by September 1, 2026. The temporary position would prepare an Institutional Review Board Application, link TCFP and DSHS data, conduct the analysis for the study, write the legislative report, and lead education efforts on the study findings after the report is published.

According to DSHS, a temporary FTE would be hired through professional services at the equivalent of a full-time position. DSHS estimates 2080 hours at $91.20 per hour for a cost of $189,696 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026 and in fiscal year 2027. Additional costs associated with the temporary FTE would be $26,274 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026 and $26,209 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2027.

However, this analysis assumes the hiring of a temporary FTE only for fiscal year 2026 because the report would need to be submitted to the legislature and made publicly available on the DSHS, TCFP, and cancer registry's websites by September 1, 2026.The bill would not require additional efforts once the report is made public to require funding for the temporary FTE in fiscal year 2027.

This analysis assumes that any costs associated with the bill for TCFP can be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

411 Commission on Fire Protection, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JMc, NPe, ER, APA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1639

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.

Who authored HB1639?

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

When was HB1639 signed into law?

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

Which agencies enforce HB1639?

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

How urgent is compliance with HB1639?

The compliance urgency for HB1639 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

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.

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.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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