Relating to newborn screening tests for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

SB 1044 requires Texas newborns to be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) as part of routine newborn health tests, alongside existing conditions like phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. It mandates that physicians or delivery attendants arrange for these screenings, which are approved by the Texas Department of Health. The bill also directs the department to develop diagnostic tests and treatment methods for DMD and other inherited conditions through a dedicated laboratory. This law, signed by the governor on May 19, 2025, became effective September 1, 2025, expanding the state's mandatory newborn screening program to include DMD.