HB 3594 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the administration of a retirement health care plan for firefighters and police officers in certain municipalities.

HB 3594 amends Texas law to establish standardized rules for retirement health care benefits for firefighters and police officers in participating municipalities. It defines key terms like "months of service" (excluding unpaid leave or military service without credit) and sets a "default rate" for fund investments. The bill protects retirees' health benefits from being seized by creditors or subject to taxes, ensuring these benefits remain secure. It directly affects current and future retirees, their spouses, and dependents covered under the plan. The law was enacted in May 2025 and applies to health care plans in effect as of October 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Signed May 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 6 edits · May 29, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates the retirement health care plan for firefighters and police officers in Texas municipalities to align with accessibility standards and modernize provisions for service credit, contributions, and benefits. The changes clarify definitions, add new options for retirees to pay lump sums instead of monthly contributions, and establish new rules for family and medical leave credit.
Scope change
The bill applies to the same municipalities and personnel as before (firefighters and police officers in certain Texas municipalities), but adds new provisions for service credit when members serve in the uniformed services and for family and medical leave.
REQUIREMENT

Added new provisions allowing retirees to pay a lump sum instead of monthly contributions to maintain health benefits, with specific deadlines and interest penalties for late payments.

Added provisions for establishing service credit when members take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, requiring voluntary contributions to maintain eligibility.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Default rate' and 'Months of service' to clarify how service time is calculated for benefit purposes.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility rules to allow surviving spouses to continue coverage after remarriage without increasing the fund's actuarial liability.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of October 1, 2025, for new provisions related to service credit and surviving spouse coverage.

TECHNICAL

Removed outdated formatting and markup artifacts from the legislative text.

Floor votes · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
48
Key actions
16
Committee
11
May 29, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
upper
May 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
5 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors