H.B. No. 510 proposes an amendment to the Health and Safety Code by adding Section 191.00495, which establishes a process for issuing certified birth records to homeless individuals in Texas. The bill defines a "homeless individual" as someone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or resides in temporary accommodations such as shelters or public places not designed for regular sleeping. It specifies that individuals who are imprisoned or detained in correctional facilities do not qualify as homeless. Upon request, the state registrar, local registrar, or county clerk is required to issue a certified copy of the birth record without a fee to verified homeless individuals.

Additionally, the bill mandates the executive commissioner to adopt rules for verifying an individual's homeless status and to outline the necessary documentation for issuing the birth record. Importantly, the department cannot require a homeless individual to provide a physical address to fulfill any requirements of this section. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to applications for birth records submitted on or after that date. Applications submitted before this date will be governed by the previous law.

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