SB 95 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the administration of immunizations to children, including required written informed consent to those immunizations and civil liability for failure to obtain the consent; providing an administrative penalty.

SB 95 requires health care providers to obtain written informed consent from parents or guardians before administering vaccines to children. It prohibits providers from accepting bonuses, kickbacks, or other payments from vaccine manufacturers, as these create conflicts of interest that may undermine proper consent counseling. If consent is not obtained and a child experiences a serious side effect requiring federal reporting, providers can be sued for up to $10,000 in damages plus legal costs. The bill directly affects pediatric healthcare providers in Texas who administer vaccines.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 12, 2024 Last action Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 10, 2025
MODERATE
This bill significantly strengthens protections for children receiving immunizations by adding new requirements for informed consent, prohibiting kickbacks from vaccine manufacturers, and establishing civil liability for providers who fail to obtain proper consent. The changes also increase potential damages from $5,000 to $10,000 and add administrative penalties for violations.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of Section 32.102 of the Texas Family Code to include new subsections addressing remuneration prohibitions and administrative penalties, while also modifying the liability framework for adverse reactions.
REQUIREMENT

Added new subsections requiring health care providers to obtain written informed consent before administering immunizations to children.

Prohibits health care providers from accepting bonuses, kickbacks, or remuneration from vaccine manufacturers for administering immunizations.

Added new requirement that consent obtained in violation of remuneration prohibitions is automatically invalid.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased civil liability damages from $5,000 to $10,000 for providers who fail to obtain proper informed consent and cause adverse reactions.

Added administrative penalties ranging from $5,000 to 10 times the value of any illicit remuneration received from vaccine manufacturers.

DEFINITION

Updated the Family Code to clarify that consent must be written and ensure it is an informed consent.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

209
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic10
1 Yea 9 Nay
90% Nay
R Republican20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Public Health
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors