The bill, S.B. No. 801, aims to facilitate the issuance of certified birth records to homeless individuals in Texas. It introduces a new section, 191.00495, to the Health and Safety Code, defining a "homeless individual" and outlining the conditions under which they can request a birth record. The bill specifies that the state registrar, local registrar, or county clerk must provide a certified copy of the birth record without a fee upon request from a verified homeless individual. Additionally, the executive commissioner is tasked with adopting rules to verify an individual's homeless status and to determine the necessary documentation for issuing the birth record.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the department cannot require a homeless individual to provide a physical address to meet any requirements for obtaining the birth record. The executive commissioner is required to adopt the necessary rules as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, which is set for September 1, 2025. The changes will apply to applications for birth records submitted on or after this date, while applications submitted prior will be governed by the existing law.

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