H.B. No. 198, also known as the Wade Cannon Act, introduces new provisions for occupational cancer screenings for firefighters in Texas. The bill amends Chapter 180 of the Local Government Code by adding Section 180.011, which mandates that political subdivisions employing firefighters must offer an occupational cancer screening at no cost to the firefighter in the fifth year of their employment and annually thereafter. The screenings must be confidential and include various tests such as urine tests, pulmonary function tests, electrocardiograms, infectious disease screenings, breast cancer screenings, blood tests, and chest x-rays every five years.

Additionally, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection is tasked with establishing minimum standards for these screenings based on guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association. However, if a political subdivision provides an annual occupational medical examination that meets specific criteria and is approved by a physician, they are exempt from the requirement to offer the cancer screening. The bill is set to take effect on June 1, 2026.

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