Relating to the provision of certain co-navigation services to individuals who are deaf-blind.
HB 645 creates a statewide program to provide co-navigation services for Texans who are deaf-blind. The Health and Human Services Commission will operate this program, reimbursing specially trained co-navigators for helping individuals safely move through environments and access information using their preferred communication methods (like American Sign Language or protactile language). The bill establishes tiered reimbursement rates based on co-navigators' training and skill level in communication modes and mobility techniques. It explicitly excludes personal care, decision-making, or formal interpreting services from the program's scope.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 4, 2025
Last action May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
Apr 17, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted from a draft version to an official engrossed version, with minor text corrections and formatting improvements. No substantive policy changes were made to the legislation's content regarding deaf-blind co-navigation services.
TECHNICAL
Header information was updated from draft format to official engrossed format with proper bill numbering and sponsor attribution.
Text formatting was corrected throughout the document, including fixing spacing issues and standardizing section numbering.
Minor text corrections were made, such as changing 'AAGonz˜lez' to 'González of El Paso' and removing placeholder text like '89R960 KKR-F'.
Floor votes · House Apr 16, 2025
How they voted
112–33
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 146
Apr 16, 2025
D
Democratic59
98% Yea
R
Republican87
62% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
8
Committee
7
May 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 16, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (112-33-1)
house
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Human Services
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
4 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Candy Noble
RRepublican
P
Lacey Hull
RRepublican
P
MG
Mary González
DDemocratic
P
Toni Rose
DDemocratic
Co
Mihaela Pleșa
DDemocratic
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