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Texas creates provisional medical licenses for foreign doctors and limited licenses for unresidency physician graduates
Original title: 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.
Last action · June 20, 2025: Effective on 9/1/25Sponsors: Tom Oliverson and 6 others
Companion · SB 881same policy, Senate version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Does
Texas establishes provisional medical licenses for qualified foreign-trained physicians with employment offers and limited licenses for certain medical school graduates practicing under a supervising physician in counties with fewer than 100,000 residents, effective September 1, 2025.
Why it matters
Expands the state's physician workforce by allowing foreign medical graduates and unresidency graduates to practice under specific facility and supervision restrictions, while requiring health insurance policies to cover services provided by s starting January 1, 2026.
Background
- The Texas Medical Board is the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of medicine and licensing physicians in Texas. context
- House Bill 2038 was passed by the 89th Texas Legislature to address healthcare workforce shortages by expanding licensing pathways for international and domestic medical graduates. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Foreign medical license holders
Qualified international medical graduates are granted a new pathway to obtain a provisional license to practice medicine in Texas if they meet employment, training, and examination requirements.
Directly affected
Physician graduates
Medical school graduates not enrolled in residency programs can obtain a limited license to practice in counties under 100,000 population under the supervision of a sponsoring physician.
Directly affected
Sponsoring physicians
Fully licensed specialists who enter into supervising practice agreements retain legal responsibility for patient care activities provided by supervised physician graduates.
Directly affected
Health insurance policyholders
Insured individuals gain the authority to select a physician graduate to provide covered medical services within the scope of their license under policies renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for a provisional medical license under this Act?
Qualified foreign medical license holders who have an employment offer as a physician in Texas, have passed the Texas medical jurisprudence examination, possess English proficiency, are authorized to work in the United States, and meet other board rules, provided they are not citizens of restricted national security countries.
Where can a physician graduate practice under the new limited license?
A may practice only in a county with a population of less than 100,000, providing medical services in the specialty in which their is certified.
Are health insurance plans required to cover services provided by physician graduates?
Yes, health insurance policies delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, must allow an insured to select a for scheduled services within their scope of license.
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
62 actions- Jun 20, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledEffective on 9/1/25
- Jun 20, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledSigned by the Governor
- Jun 1, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledSent to the Governor
- Jun 1, 2025SenateSigned in the Senate
- May 31, 2025HouseSigned in the House
- May 30, 2025HouseReported enrolled
Show 56 earlier actions
- May 29, 2025SenateHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
- May 29, 2025HouseText of Senate Amendment(s)
- May 29, 2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- May 29, 2025HouseFloorRecord vote (RV#4025)
- May 29, 2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)
- May 28, 2025HouseSenate Amendments Analysis distributed
- May 28, 2025HouseSenate Amendments distributed
- May 26, 2025HouseSenate passage as amended reported
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorRecord vote
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorPassed
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorRead 3rd time
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorRecord vote
- May 26, 2025SenateThree day rule suspended
- May 26, 2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorPassed to 3rd reading as amended
- May 26, 2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
- May 26, 2025SenateAmended
- May 26, 2025SenateAmendment(s) offered (FA1 Sparks)
- May 26, 2025SenateFloorRead 2nd time
- May 26, 2025SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
- May 25, 2025SenatePlaced on intent calendar
- May 23, 2025SenateCommittee report printed and distributed
- May 23, 2025SenateCommitteeReported favorably as substituted
- May 21, 2025SenateVote taken in committee
- May 21, 2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
- May 20, 2025SenateLeft pending in committee
- May 20, 2025SenateTestimony taken in committee
- May 20, 2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
- May 20, 2025SenateScheduled for public hearing on . . .
- May 7, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Health & Human Services
- May 7, 2025SenateIntroducedRead first time
- May 6, 2025SenateReceived from the House
- May 6, 2025HouseReported engrossed
- May 6, 2025HouseFloorRecord vote (RV#1404)
- May 6, 2025HouseFloorPassed
- May 6, 2025HouseFloorRead 3rd time
- May 5, 2025HouseFloorPassed to engrossment as amended
- May 5, 2025HouseAmended (2-Shofner and Oliverson)
- May 5, 2025HouseAmended (1-Oliverson)
- May 5, 2025HouseFloorRead 2nd time
- May 2, 2025HousePlaced on General State Calendar
- Apr 30, 2025HouseConsidered in Calendars
- Apr 25, 2025HouseCommittee report sent to Calendars
- Apr 23, 2025HouseCommittee report distributed
- Apr 23, 2025HouseComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
- Apr 14, 2025HouseCommitteeReported favorably as substituted
- Apr 14, 2025HouseCommittee substitute considered in committee
- Apr 14, 2025HouseConsidered in public hearing
- Apr 7, 2025HouseLeft pending in committee
- Apr 7, 2025HouseTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Apr 7, 2025HouseCommittee substitute considered in committee
- Apr 7, 2025HouseConsidered in public hearing
- Apr 7, 2025HouseScheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Mar 14, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Health
- Mar 14, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Jan 23, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 2038 prevailed
Total
144
- Yes
- 104
- No
- 31
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 4
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 5
How they voted (144)
Armando WalleParty not recordedno
Oscar LongoriaParty not recordedyes
David LoweParty not recordedyes
Suleman LalaniParty not recordedyes
Hubert VoParty not recordedno
Jessica GonzálezParty not recordedno
Marc LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Matt ShaheenParty not recordedyes
Giovanni CapriglioneParty not recordedyes
Terry CanalesParty not recordedyes
Charlie GerenParty not recordedyes
Gene WuParty not recordedno
Rodríguez RamosParty not recordedno
Gina HinojosaParty not recordedno
Venton JonesParty not recordedabsent
Mike SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Trey WhartonParty not recordedyes
Harold DuttonParty not recordedexcused
Matt MorganParty not recordedyes
Richard RaymondParty not recordedyes
Mike OlcottParty not recordedyes
Ben BumgarnerParty not recordedyes
Tom CraddickParty not recordedyes
Jared PattersonParty not recordedyes
120 more members
Daniel AldersParty not recordedyes
Brooks LandgrafParty not recordedyes
Keith BellParty not recordedyes
Eddie MoralesParty not recordedyes
John McQueeneyParty not recordedyes
Barbara Gervin-HawkinsParty not recordedno
Janie LopezParty not recordedyes
Martinez FischerParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann PerezParty not recordedyes
Brent MoneyParty not recordedyes
Jeff LeachParty not recordedyes
Bobby GuerraParty not recordedyes
Yvonne DavisParty not recordedno
Chris TurnerParty not recordedabsent
Ray LopezParty not recordedyes
Greg BonnenParty not recordedyes
Sheryl ColeParty not recordedyes
Richard HayesParty not recordedyes
Jeff BarryParty not recordedyes
Claudia OrdazParty not recordedyes
Denise VillalobosParty not recordedyes
Joanne ShofnerParty not recordedyes
Nicole CollierParty not recordedno
Stan LambertParty not recordedyes
Drew DarbyParty not recordedyes
Josey GarciaParty not recordedno
Carrie IsaacParty not recordedyes
Diego BernalParty not recordedno
Vikki GoodwinParty not recordedyes
David CookParty not recordedyes
Cas Garcia HernandezParty not recordedyes
Mark DorazioParty not recordedyes
Terry WilsonParty not recordedyes
Liz CamposParty not recordedno
Tom OliversonParty not recordedyes
Linda GarciaParty not recordedno
James TalaricoParty not recordedno
Morgan MeyerParty not recordedyes
Todd HunterParty not recordedyes
Salman BhojaniParty not recordedno
A.J. LouderbackParty not recordedyes
Aicha DavisParty not recordedyes
Ramon RomeroParty not recordedno
Ward JohnsonParty not recordedno
Ryan GuillenParty not recordedyes
Alma AllenParty not recordedabsent
Tony TinderholtParty not recordedyes
Harris DavilaParty not recordedyes
Philip CortezParty not recordedyes
Jo JonesParty not recordedno
Stan KitzmanParty not recordedyes
Janis HoltParty not recordedyes
Cecil BellParty not recordedyes
Dennis PaulParty not recordedyes
Jay DeanParty not recordedyes
Wes VirdellParty not recordedexcused
Terry MezaParty not recordedexcused
Mitch LittleParty not recordedyes
Erin GámezParty not recordedyes
John LujanParty not recordedyes
Christian ManuelParty not recordedno
Morales ShawParty not recordedno
Rafael AnchíaParty not recordedno
Joe MoodyParty not recordedno
Toni RoseParty not recordedno
John BryantParty not recordedno
Mano DeAyalaParty not recordedyes
Angie ButtonParty not recordedyes
John SmitheeParty not recordedyes
Valoree SwansonParty not recordedyes
Rhetta BowersParty not recordedyes
J.M. LozanoParty not recordedyes
Steve TothParty not recordedyes
Angelia OrrParty not recordedyes
Cody HarrisParty not recordedexcused
Briscoe CainParty not recordedyes
James FrankParty not recordedyes
Leo WilsonParty not recordedyes
Pat CurryParty not recordedyes
Ken KingParty not recordedyes
Sergio MuñozParty not recordedyes
Katrina PiersonParty not recordedyes
Paul DysonParty not recordedyes
Lacey HullParty not recordedyes
Shelby SlawsonParty not recordedyes
Vince PerezParty not recordedyes
Helen KerwinParty not recordedexcused
Christina MoralesParty not recordedno
Jon RosenthalParty not recordedno
Lulu FloresParty not recordedno
Carl TepperParty not recordedyes
Donna HowardParty not recordedyes
Alan SchoolcraftParty not recordedyes
Sam HarlessParty not recordedyes
Dade PhelanParty not recordedyes
Mihaela PleșaParty not recordedyes
John BucyParty not recordedyes
Cole HefnerParty not recordedyes
Ellen TroxclairParty not recordedyes
Andy HopperParty not recordedyes
Shelley LutherParty not recordedyes
Trent AshbyParty not recordedyes
Charles CunninghamParty not recordedyes
Gary GatesParty not recordedyes
Stan GerdesParty not recordedyes
David SpillerParty not recordedyes
Brad BuckleyParty not recordedyes
Candy NobleParty not recordedyes
Brian HarrisonParty not recordedyes
Ron ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Lauren SimmonsParty not recordedabsent
Don McLaughlinParty not recordedyes
Cody VasutParty not recordedyes
Senfronia ThompsonParty not recordedno
Keresa RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Erin ZwienerParty not recordedno
Mando MartinezParty not recordedno
Will MetcalfParty not recordedyes
Mary GonzálezParty not recordedno
Hillary HicklandParty not recordedyes
Show 1 earlier roll call
HB 2038 was passed
Total
144
- Yes
- 139
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 5
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (144)
Bobby GuerraParty not recordedyes
Yvonne DavisParty not recordedyes
Harris DavilaParty not recordedyes
Cas Garcia HernandezParty not recordedyes
Jo JonesParty not recordedyes
Valoree SwansonParty not recordedyes
Stan GerdesParty not recordedyes
Jon RosenthalParty not recordedyes
Marc LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Paul DysonParty not recordedyes
Sam HarlessParty not recordedyes
Mary GonzálezParty not recordedyes
Oscar LongoriaParty not recordedyes
Mihaela PleșaParty not recordedyes
Janie LopezParty not recordedyes
Claudia OrdazParty not recordedyes
Chris TurnerParty not recordedyes
Cecil BellParty not recordedyes
Dennis PaulParty not recordedyes
A.J. LouderbackParty not recordedyes
Mike SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Denise VillalobosParty not recordedyes
Sergio MuñozParty not recordedyes
Christian ManuelParty not recordedyes
120 more members
Candy NobleParty not recordedyes
Mitch LittleParty not recordedyes
Todd HunterParty not recordedyes
Richard RaymondParty not recordedabsent
Lulu FloresParty not recordedyes
Mark DorazioParty not recordedyes
Stan LambertParty not recordedyes
Tony TinderholtParty not recordedyes
Hillary HicklandParty not recordedyes
Ray LopezParty not recordedyes
Jay DeanParty not recordedyes
David LoweParty not recordedyes
Will MetcalfParty not recordedyes
John SmitheeParty not recordedyes
John McQueeneyParty not recordedyes
Brad BuckleyParty not recordedyes
Aicha DavisParty not recordedyes
Jessica GonzálezParty not recordedyes
John BucyParty not recordedyes
Vikki GoodwinParty not recordedyes
Terry CanalesParty not recordedyes
John BryantParty not recordedyes
Trey WhartonParty not recordedyes
Andy HopperParty not recordedyes
Trent AshbyParty not recordedyes
Shelley LutherParty not recordedyes
Brian HarrisonParty not recordedyes
Ben BumgarnerParty not recordedyes
James FrankParty not recordedyes
Charlie GerenParty not recordedyes
Helen KerwinParty not recordedyes
Don McLaughlinParty not recordedyes
Suleman LalaniParty not recordedyes
Keith BellParty not recordedyes
Charles CunninghamParty not recordedyes
Pat CurryParty not recordedyes
Lauren SimmonsParty not recordedyes
Linda GarciaParty not recordedyes
Harold DuttonParty not recordedyes
Richard HayesParty not recordedyes
Rodríguez RamosParty not recordedyes
James TalaricoParty not recordedyes
Nicole CollierParty not recordedyes
Matt MorganParty not recordedyes
Carl TepperParty not recordedyes
Ramon RomeroParty not recordedyes
Ward JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Angie ButtonParty not recordedyes
Janis HoltParty not recordedyes
Briscoe CainParty not recordedyes
Barbara Gervin-HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Jeff LeachParty not recordedyes
Leo WilsonParty not recordedyes
Erin GámezParty not recordedabsent
Stan KitzmanParty not recordedyes
Sheryl ColeParty not recordedyes
Jared PattersonParty not recordedyes
Christina MoralesParty not recordedyes
Angelia OrrParty not recordedyes
John LujanParty not recordedabsent
Ken KingParty not recordedyes
Dade PhelanParty not recordedyes
Gina HinojosaParty not recordedyes
Morgan MeyerParty not recordedyes
David SpillerParty not recordedyes
Tom CraddickParty not recordedyes
Tom OliversonParty not recordedyes
Alma AllenParty not recordedyes
Gene WuParty not recordedyes
Philip CortezParty not recordedyes
Toni RoseParty not recordedyes
Joe MoodyParty not recordednot voting
Terry WilsonParty not recordedyes
Giovanni CapriglioneParty not recordedyes
Brent MoneyParty not recordedyes
Cody HarrisParty not recordedyes
Hubert VoParty not recordedyes
Mike OlcottParty not recordedyes
Erin ZwienerParty not recordedyes
Drew DarbyParty not recordedyes
Alan SchoolcraftParty not recordedyes
Daniel AldersParty not recordedyes
Rhetta BowersParty not recordedyes
Shelby SlawsonParty not recordedyes
Lacey HullParty not recordedyes
Steve TothParty not recordedyes
Salman BhojaniParty not recordedyes
Eddie MoralesParty not recordedyes
Venton JonesParty not recordedabsent
J.M. LozanoParty not recordedyes
Josey GarciaParty not recordedyes
Martinez FischerParty not recordedyes
Wes VirdellParty not recordedyes
Cole HefnerParty not recordedyes
Terry MezaParty not recordedyes
Katrina PiersonParty not recordedyes
Carrie IsaacParty not recordedyes
Vince PerezParty not recordedyes
Ryan GuillenParty not recordedyes
Armando WalleParty not recordedyes
Diego BernalParty not recordedyes
Ellen TroxclairParty not recordedyes
Joanne ShofnerParty not recordedyes
Morales ShawParty not recordedyes
Keresa RichardsonParty not recordedyes
David CookParty not recordedyes
Mano DeAyalaParty not recordedyes
Mando MartinezParty not recordedyes
Brooks LandgrafParty not recordedyes
Donna HowardParty not recordedyes
Greg BonnenParty not recordedyes
Gary GatesParty not recordedyes
Senfronia ThompsonParty not recordedyes
Rafael AnchíaParty not recordedyes
Matt ShaheenParty not recordedyes
Cody VasutParty not recordedyes
Jeff BarryParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann PerezParty not recordedyes
Ron ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Liz CamposParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Perez, VincentHouseAuthorNo profile match
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift99% confidence
Creation of Alternative Medical Licensing Pathways
The Act establishes distinct statutory frameworks for provisional licensure of foreign physicians and limited licensure for unresidency graduates supervised by specialists.
Connected Entities
OrganizationEducational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates“Organization providing certification for international medical graduates.”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Department of Health and Human Services“Federal department designating rural communities, medically underserved areas, o”Map →
OrganizationCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services“Federal agency whose regulations treat physician graduate license holders as gen”Map →
OrganizationTexas Medical Board“State board responsible for issuing medical licenses and adopting implementation”Map →
Sources
Open source document
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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