The bill, S.B. No. 737, aims to enhance the responsibilities of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee by expanding the scope of their review to include cases related to miscarriage and the lack of access to therapeutic termination of pregnancy. Specifically, the bill amends Section 34.005 of the Health and Safety Code to require the committee to study and review pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity, explicitly including those cases associated with miscarriage and access to therapeutic termination. Additionally, it mandates the aggregation and submission of relevant data regarding these cases to the review committee.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 34.013 to allow for the collection, maintenance, and disclosure of records pertaining to deaths or severe maternal morbidity related to miscarriage or lack of access to therapeutic termination, which were previously excluded from such provisions. This change signifies a shift in how maternal health records are handled, ensuring that critical data is available for review and analysis to improve maternal health outcomes in Texas. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 34.005, Health and Safety Code 34.007, Health and Safety Code 34.013 (Health and Safety Code 34)