Guidance for Providers Related to the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC)

by | Sep 10, 2026

September 10th, 2026

REMINDER:  Held Harmless Period

Just a friendly reminder: Concerning the implementation of SB 1849 (89th Texas Legislative session) which created the Interagency Reportable Conduct Search Engine (aka, SEMARC), including  PL 2026-10 ,  the hold harmless period ends on 10/05/2026.

DOES NOT apply to HCS/TxHmL yet (implementation targeted for March 2027), but does apply to other programs referenced in PL 2026-10 including ICFs/IID, DAHS, DAHS with ISS and DAHS-ISS Only.
**Providers have inquired from HHSC whether a program provider will be held accountable if an ISS provider with which they subcontract with, is found to not be using SEMARC to check for reportable conduct.  HHSC Regulatory has said that the ISS provider would be cited – not the program provider. 
TULIP/NAR/EMR links

August 10th, 2026

HHSC LTCR Publishes Revised SEMARC Guidance for Providers (PL 2026-10)

HHSC LTCR has published revised Provider Letter 2026-10, LTCR Provider Responsibilities for the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC). The letter has been updated to include information on a hold-harmless period from August 3, 2026, to October 5, 2026.

July 3rd, 2026

HHSC Long-Term Care Regulation has published Provider Letter 2026-10, LTCR Provider Responsibilities for the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC).

The letter informs providers of the implementation of Senate Bill 1849, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. The bill created Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 810, Interagency Reportable Conduct Search Engine.

The interagency search engine is formally named the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC). SEMARC provides a common platform for authorized users to search information across multiple agencies for individuals with reportable conduct.

FYI- NAR (Nurse’s Aid Registry) is  a separate search.