🟡Relating to a requirement that certain hospitals submit a summary of parts of their emergency operations plans to the Health and Human Services Commission.

🟡 SB 672: Hospital Emergency Diversion Plans Filed but Hidden from Public View

What it says it does:
SB 672 requires hospitals with emergency rooms to send the state a written summary of how they plan to reroute patients if a cyber attack or power outage knocks out their services. The intent is to strengthen statewide emergency readiness and ensure the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has those plans on file.

What it actually changes:
Hospitals must submit short summaries of diversion plans focused only on cyber and power disruptions. They must update them within 30 days of any change. These summaries are automatically confidential under state law, meaning the public cannot see them. HHSC collects and stores the information but is not given new rulemaking or enforcement power.

Who is pushing for it:
Support in the files came from the Texas Hospital Association, Christus Health, Texas e-Health Alliance, AARP Texas, and the Texas College of Emergency Physicians. No registered opposition appears in the witness lists.

Who benefits:
Hospitals gain protection from public disclosure and a low-effort compliance process. HHSC receives centralized information for planning, but with no obligation to share data or verify the quality of submissions.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Local emergency planners, watchdogs, and ordinary Texans are left in the dark. Because the law keeps these diversion plans confidential, communities cannot tell whether their local hospital is prepared or not.

Why this matters long term:
This law creates a closed system where hospitals report to the state but the public has no way to confirm readiness or accountability. Over time, that secrecy could weaken trust between hospitals, local governments, and the people who rely on them during crises.

What to watch next:
Lawmakers may revisit whether HHSC should have the power to standardize or audit submissions. Advocates for transparency may push for aggregate statewide reporting so Texans can see trends without exposing sensitive data.

Bottom line:
SB 672 aims to improve emergency preparedness but settles for confidential paperwork. It builds a data channel between hospitals and the state while leaving the public outside the loop. Without enforcement or transparency, Texans are being asked to trust plans they will never see.

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