Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain individuals under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

SB 255 requires Texas to expand Medicaid eligibility to all low-income adults who apply and meet federal income guidelines under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. It directly affects approximately 1 million Texans who currently lack Medicaid coverage due to Texas’s prior refusal to expand eligibility. The bill mandates that the Health and Human Services Commission provide medical assistance using available federal matching funds, overriding any existing state restrictions. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to all new applications or eligibility reviews after that date.