HB 2038 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the issuance by the Texas Medical Board of certain licenses to practice medicine and the authority of an insured to select certain license holders under the insured's health policy; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.

HB 2038, the DOCTOR Act, creates a provisional license for foreign-trained physicians who have job offers from Texas healthcare facilities like hospitals or clinics. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid medical license in their home country, meet minimum practice experience (5 years with residency or 10 years without), pass a Texas medical jurisprudence exam, and demonstrate English proficiency. The Texas Medical Board will issue these licenses to streamline the process for qualified foreign physicians seeking to practice in Texas. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 14, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 2 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MINOR
The bill was converted from its engrossed version to the enrolled version, which is the final form ready for the Governor's signature. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, with only formatting adjustments, spacing corrections, and minor text cleanup applied throughout the document.
TECHNICAL

Formatting and spacing were adjusted throughout the document to align with standard enrolled bill formatting conventions.

Minor text cleanup and removal of draft markers from the original engrossed version.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
58
Key actions
20
Committee
12
Amendments
11
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Text of Senate Amendment(s)
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
upper
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 26, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Public Health
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
5 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors