Rep. Venton Jones introduced HB 4147, a bill on Health, to the Texas House on Monday, March 10 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to informed consent for certain screening tests’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill introduces a framework for opt-out testing in medical screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. A health care provider must inform patients about such screenings and obtain consent, permitting patients to opt out if they choose. If the test results are positive, providers must offer information on relevant health care, education, prevention, and social support services. The bill mandates the executive commissioner to adopt appropriate rules by Jan. 1, 2026, following CDC recommendations. Compliance by health care providers is also required by this date. Implementation depends on specific appropriations, with full enactment required by Sept. 1, 2029. The act becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2025.
Venton Jones, the vice chair of the House Committee on Corrections, proposed another 17 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Article II.
Jones graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS.
Venton Jones is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 100th House district. He replaced previous state representative Jasmine Crockett in 2023.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | HB 3452 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to inquiries into the criminal and disciplinary history of an applicant for undergraduate admission to a public institution of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 2940 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the award of good conduct time to certain inmates; changing parole eligibility |
| 89(R) | HB 2939 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain individuals under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
| 89(R) | HB 2913 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the authority of a municipality to allow a person to file an application to stop a nonconforming use of a property |
| 89(R) | HB 2557 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to prior authorization for prescription drug benefits related to the treatment of chronic health conditions |
| 89(R) | HB 2231 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the consideration for approval by the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of an application for an authorization to use a certain standard permit for a concrete batch plant |
| 89(R) | HB 1738 | 01/06/2025 | Relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct |
| 89(R) | HB 1737 | 01/06/2025 | Relating to HIV and AIDS tests |
| 89(R) | HB 1680 | 12/19/2024 | Relating to prior authorization for prescription drug benefits related to the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infections |
| 89(R) | HB 1679 | 12/19/2024 | Relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding recommended standards for school district facility maintenance and custodial services |
| 89(R) | HB 1574 | 12/11/2024 | Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with certain medical conditions |
| 89(R) | HB 1573 | 12/11/2024 | Relating to a school district policy regarding custodian workloads |
| 89(R) | HB 1463 | 11/22/2024 | Relating to the manufacture, transportation, storage, and disposal of new and scrap tires; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 1459 | 11/22/2024 | Relating to the conduct that constitutes the use of a deadly weapon for purposes of the prosecution of the offense of aggravated assault or aggravated sexual assault |
| 89(R) | HB 1369 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the confidentiality of residential eviction case information |
| 89(R) | HB 1368 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours |
| 89(R) | HB 1367 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the authority of the commissioners court of a county to adopt an exemption from ad valorem taxation by the county of a portion, expressed as a dollar amount, of the appraised value of an individual’s residence homestead |
| 88(R) | HB 4286 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the qualifications and term of the presiding officer of the Texas Funeral Service Commission |
| 88(R) | HB 4019 | 03/08/2023 | Relating to inquiries into the criminal and disciplinary history of an applicant for undergraduate admission to a public institution of higher education |
| 88(R) | HB 3377 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to HIV and AIDS tests |
| 88(R) | HB 3282 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to the manufacture, transportation, storage, and disposal of new and scrap tires; authorizing a fee |
| 88(R) | HB 3067 | 03/01/2023 | Relating to the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications by certain peace officers |
| 88(R) | HB 3068 | 03/01/2023 | Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with certain medical conditions |
| 88(R) | HB 2985 | 02/28/2023 | Relating to prior authorization for prescription drug benefits related to the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infections |
| 88(R) | HB 2986 | 02/28/2023 | Relating to the conduct that constitutes the use of a deadly weapon for purposes of the prosecution of the offense of aggravated assault or aggravated sexual assault |
| 88(R) | HB 2693 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding recommended standards for school district facility maintenance and custodial services |
| 88(R) | HB 2694 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours |
| 88(R) | HB 2695 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to a school district policy regarding custodian workloads |
| 88(R) | HB 2235 | 02/13/2023 | Relating to HIV and AIDS tests |
| 88(R) | HB 2052 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for assault of certain hospital personnel |
| 88(R) | HB 2053 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to the issuance of Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center specialty license plates; authorizing a fee |
| 88(R) | HB 2054 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to the authority of the commissioners court of a county to adopt an exemption from ad valorem taxation by the county of a portion, expressed as a dollar amount, of the appraised value of an individual’s residence homestead |
| 88(R) | HB 2055 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct |
