The Texas Senate on a divided vote approved House Bill 107, creating a statewide sickle cell disease registry under the Department of State Health Services to track cases, improve care and support research.

Supporters said the registry will help identify patients and coordinate care where earlier efforts and federal emphasis on treatment have raised opportunities; opponents expressed privacy concerns until a floor amendment strengthened confidentiality and safeguards. Senator Miles, the measure’s floor sponsor, told colleagues the bill “adds stronger privacy protection and patient choice.”

The bill requires hospitals and clinics to report cases to the registry and states the registry must comply with federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Its sponsors said the registry would facilitate planning for new treatments and federal partnerships. Senate debate noted that a similar measure passed in a prior session but was vetoed over privacy issues; the floor amendment was presented to address that concern.

Senator Miles moved and successfully adopted the amendment on the floor before seeking final passage. After the amendment was adopted, Miles said on the floor, “I personally wanna thank you and the members for final passage of House Bill 107, Sickle Cell Registry.” The bill passed final passage by a roll-call tally of 25 ayes and 6 nays.

The law requires the Department of State Health Services to operate the registry and to implement data protections consistent with HIPAA. It also permits the department to accept federal funds, grants or gifts for registry operation. The enacted language directs participating providers to submit deidentified or identified data as required by rule, subject to the privacy and security provisions already in state and federal law.

Implementation questions raised on the floor included the registry’s fiscal impact and the specifics of what data clinics must submit; sponsors said those details will be set in administrative rules subject to standard rulemaking public notice. The Senate’s action moves the measure to the enrollment and transmission process toward the governor.

House Bill 107 — establishing the Texas Sickle Cell Disease Registry with added privacy protections and reporting requirements — was adopted by the Senate and will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process.