HB 2187 requires Texas hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees and submit accurate staffing reports, which must be verified by the chief nursing officer. The bill prohibits hospitals from retaliating against nurses who report staffing violations or file complaints, and creates a formal process for resolving complaints through the Health and Human Services Commission. Hospitals must provide timely written responses to complaints, including details about investigations and resolutions, while keeping all complaint-related information confidential. This law directly affects nurses, hospital management, and the Health and Human Services Commission, with all provisions taking effect on September 1, 2025.
HB 1700 requires Texas health regulatory agencies to create standardized rules for recording patient consent related to telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth services. It specifically mandates consistent formats and retention for consent documentation covering treatment, data collection, and data sharing. The rules must address differences between service types (medical, dental, or general telehealth) and include requirements for audio-only consent documentation. This law affects health professionals providing remote care and the agencies that regulate them, taking effect September 1, 2025.
SB 282 requires public and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas to notify parents in writing if they lack a full-time nurse or equivalent coverage (e.g., two nurses covering all instructional hours) for more than 30 consecutive instructional days during a school year. Schools must provide this notice by the 30th instructional day after the absence begins, make a good-faith effort to offer it in the parent’s primary language, and retain copies. The law excludes schools with fewer than 10,000 students and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects parents of students in schools meeting the coverage gap threshold.
HB 1807 allows students with seizure disorders at Texas public schools to self-administer their prescribed anti-seizure medication under specific conditions. To qualify, students must demonstrate to their doctor and school nurse that they can safely use the medication, and their parent must provide written authorization along with a physician's statement detailing the medication's purpose, dosage, timing, and duration. The bill amends Texas Education Code sections 38.015 and 38.032 to establish these requirements, ensuring students can manage their condition during school hours or school activities. It directly affects students with seizure disorders who meet the verification and documentation criteria.
HB 514 creates a state-mandated maternal health care workforce campaign to address shortages in maternal health services. It directs the Department of State Health Services to develop a public outreach initiative prioritizing continuing education, trauma-informed care training, and recruiting professionals for rural and underserved areas. The campaign specifically aims to increase the number of maternal health care professionals - such as doulas and certified providers - and boost representation of racial and ethnic minority groups in the workforce. Key provisions include facilitating training programs, expanding equipment and facility capacity, and improving access for underserved women. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
This bill establishes the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council to develop strategic plans for Texas' health care workforce, replacing two existing entities: the statewide health coordinating council and its nursing advisory committee. The new council will include representatives from key health agencies (like the Texas Health and Human Services Department, Texas Medical Board, and Texas Education Agency) and four governor-appointed members with health care workforce expertise. Its main duty is to compile and analyze workforce data from state agencies to inform strategic planning for health care systems. The bill aims to streamline coordination and improve workforce planning across Texas' health care sector.
SB 646 creates a program to repay education loans for mental health professionals working in underserved areas of Texas. It defines eligible professionals as psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other licensed providers who complete 1-3 consecutive years of practice in a state-designated mental health shortage area and provide services to Medicaid recipients. The bill requires applicants to apply through the Texas State Board of Examiners and specifies that repayment assistance is tied to service in designated shortage regions. This policy, effective September 1, 2025, aims to address workforce shortages by reducing education debt for providers serving Medicaid patients in underserved communities.
SB 911 defines key terms for regulating advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Texas, including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. The bill amends licensing definitions in the Occupations Code to clarify their scope of practice, such as administering medications under authorized protocols. It also authorizes a fee related to this regulatory framework. This bill directly affects APRNs and healthcare facilities employing them by standardizing their licensing and practice parameters under Texas law.
HB 827 directs Texas health authorities to use existing grant funds to support programs reducing workplace violence against nurses. It requires the nursing resource section to fund innovative prevention methods for both verbal and physical violence in hospitals, emergency facilities, nursing homes, and home health agencies. The bill creates a specific grant program focused on proven approaches to improve safety for nurses in these settings. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
SB 2669 allows podiatrists in Texas to delegate certain podiatric medical acts to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), specifically enabling APRNs to perform minor procedures and conduct office visits without the podiatrist's physical presence. The bill requires written protocols and specifies that delegated acts must align with the APRN's scope of practice and be performed safely, as determined by the podiatrist. It directly affects podiatrists (who can delegate), APRNs (who gain expanded authority), and patients (who may receive certain podiatric care from APRNs). Key provisions include defining "minor procedures" as office-based treatments not requiring medication beyond local anesthesia and clarifying that APRNs can oversee clinic operations and assessments. The bill amends Texas Occupations Code Chapter 202 to establish this delegation framework, pending further legislative action.
