HB 158 — County Jail Standards for Pregnant Prisoners

Texas would set minimum county jail standards for pregnant and postpartum prisoners.

By LeRoy Nellis — Tracked from public agency records

HB 158 would would set minimum county jail standards for pregnant and postpartum prisoners.

County jails are where most people who die in custody are held before any conviction. A bill that changes jail rules can change what a family is told, how fast a death is investigated, and whether the record is public.

What the caption says, word for word

The official caption reads: “Relating to minimum standards for county jails relating to pregnant and postpartum prisoners.” The author listed in the Legislature report is González, Mary. Last action is listed as H Filed on 11/09/2026. That is the whole record in the report; anything beyond those words is not in this summary.

What it would mean

In plain words, the caption says the state would create rules around the subject named in the caption — not a funding level, not a staffing count, and not a deadline. Only the history page will say whether any of that becomes law. The caption itself: “Relating to minimum standards for county jails relating to pregnant and postpartum prisoners.”

Author: González, Mary. Filed: 11/09/2026.

What to watch next

The bill has only been filed. Filing is not passage. The Legislature history page at the link below carries the current status, and it is the only place to check whether the bill moves. Watch that page before telling anyone what the bill does.

Sources: Texas Legislature, Today's Filed Bills in the House (11/09/2026), HB 158 caption and author; Bill history for HB 158.

All Texas House Bills in this section

Full bill text (Introduced)

90R1529 JDK-D By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 158 relating to minimum standards for county jails relating to pregnant and postpartum prisoners.

SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 511.01055 to read as follows: Sec. 511.01055. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM PRISONERS. (a) The commission shall adopt reasonable rules and procedures that: (1) establish minimum standards for county jails relating to conditions of confinement, clothing, nutrition, and rest for pregnant and postpartum prisoners, including standards addressing: (A) access to bathrooms, maternity hygiene products, and prenatal mattresses; (B) jail cleanliness; and (C) jail temperature; (2) require each county jail to report to the commission, in the manner prescribed by the commission: (A) the number of pregnant and postpartum prisoners confined in the jail and the number of those prisoners confined in administrative segregation; (B) the health, mental health, or general support programs offered by the jail to pregnant or postpartum prisoners; (C) the nutritional supplementation offered by the jail to pregnant or postpartum prisoners; and (D) any other information relating to pregnant and postpartum prisoners the commission determines appropriate; and (3) require external audits of each county jail every six months to determine compliance with the standards related to the care provided to pregnant and postpartum prisoners. (b) The standards adopted under Subsection (a)(1) must be based on evidence-based best practices. (c) In implementing the external audit requirement adopted under Subsection (a)(3), the commission may select and contract with the office of the independent auditor established under Section 493.0052, in conjunction with the office of the independent ombudsman of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or another external auditor to conduct the audits. (d) The commission shall inspect county jails to: (1) determine compliance with the standards adopted under Subsection (a)(1) and any other law relating to pregnant or postpartum prisoners; and (2) verify the information reported by a county jail under Subsection (a)(2). (e) The commission shall submit an annual report to the legislature on the implementation of and compliance by county jails with the standards adopted under Subsection (a)(1). The report must: (1) include all data collected or provided to the commission under this section during the period covered by the report; (2) identify any deficiencies in the care provided to pregnant and postpartum prisoners; and (3) include any policy recommendations relating to the care of pregnant and postpartum prisoners.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the rules and procedures required by Section 511.01055, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.

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