TX HB4454

Creates an 8-member Task Force on Patient Solicitation, with 4 members appointed by the executive commissioner and 4 by the attorney general, to study and recommend ways to prevent illegal patient solicitation and improve enforcement of related laws

Expands the definition of "advertising" to include the Internet, and prohibits treatment facilities from making false or misleading statements about services or location on websites or in advertising media

Requires treatment facilities to disclose contract terms to prospective patients when using marketing providers that generate referrals through call centers or websites

Increases minimum civil penalties for violations from $1,000 to $2,000 per violation (maximum remains $25,000), and expands prohibited remuneration to include "any benefit or commission" in addition to cash payments

Prohibits obtaining or disclosing confidential patient information for solicitation purposes, and extends protections to cover both inpatient and outpatient treatment referrals at mental health and chemical dependency facilities

Takes effect September 1, 2025, with task force required to submit biennial reports to the legislature by December 1 of each even-numbered year