H.B. No. 1826 aims to enhance mental health support for pregnant inmates in county jails and those in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice by mandating depression screenings. The bill introduces a new section, 501.0655, which requires that each pregnant inmate or those who have given birth in the past year be screened for depression at specified intervals: once each trimester during pregnancy, once during the six-week period after giving birth, and at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Additionally, the bill amends Section 511.009(a) to include a requirement for jails to ensure that their health services plan addresses mental health care, specifically mandating depression screenings for the same group of women.

The bill also includes various provisions aimed at improving the overall conditions and care for inmates, such as establishing minimum standards for health services, ensuring access to mental health professionals, and providing adequate feminine hygiene products. The Commission on Jail Standards is tasked with adopting the necessary rules and procedures by December 1, 2023, to implement these changes, with the act set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 511.009 (Government Code 511)