HB 319 requires certain employers in Texas to provide paid sick leave to employees for specific health-related needs. It mandates that employees may use this leave to care for themselves or covered family members (including spouses, children, parents, or individuals living in their household) due to illness, injury, family violence, sexual assault, or other qualifying health conditions. Employers who fail to comply face administrative and civil penalties. The bill defines key terms like "family member" and "health care professional" to clarify eligibility and scope.
HB 271 amends the composition of Texas' Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, increasing its membership from 23 to 25 members. The bill adds two new physician specialties (critical care and emergency care), two doulas with specific urban/rural representation requirements (one must specialize in end-of-life care), and a representative from a managed care organization. It also specifies that community members must include one urban and one rural representative, and requires at least one maternal fetal medicine specialist among obstetric physicians. The committee, which analyzes pregnancy-related deaths to improve maternal health outcomes, will now include these additional expertise areas to enhance its review capacity.
HB 196 creates new rules for evidence in civil negligence cases where employers are sued over employee THC use. It prohibits courts from admitting evidence of an employee's *medical use of low-THC cannabis* (per Texas law) unless the employer knew about the use, was aware the employee was intoxicated, and failed to act. It also blocks using a positive THC test alone as evidence; additional proof of intoxication at the time of injury is required. This directly affects employers facing lawsuits alleging negligence related to employee THC use. The law applies only to cases filed after its effective date.
HB 304 creates a state franchise tax credit for businesses opening grocery stores or "healthy corner stores" (under 2,000 sq. ft. with 20% fresh food space) in designated food deserts. It directly affects businesses that open such stores after January 1, 2026, in low-income areas with limited healthy food access. To qualify, stores must accept WIC and SNAP benefits within 90 days of opening and operate year-round. The credit reduces the business’s state tax liability for establishing these stores, aiming to improve healthy food access in underserved communities.
This Texas bill (SB 56) requires blood banks to follow physician orders for patients' own blood donations (autologous or direct donations) and allows blood banks to charge reasonable fees for administrative costs. Hospitals must also permit patients to provide their own blood donations before a scheduled medical procedure when ordered by a physician. The law directly affects blood banks, hospitals, and patients needing blood for upcoming surgeries or treatments. It creates a clear process for patients to donate their own blood in advance, streamlining the system without changing eligibility rules for blood donation.
The bill text for HJR 35 is not currently available in the provided context, only the title and filing date (August 21, 2025) are listed. The title indicates it proposes a constitutional amendment establishing an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy. Without access to the full bill text or specific provisions, a detailed summary of its mechanisms, affected parties, or concrete policy changes cannot be provided. The context only states that the bill is "coming soon" with a PDF reference.
This bill requires Texas' commissioner of state health services to issue a statewide order allowing licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription. It mandates standardized protocols for pharmacists, requires patient instructions on proper use, and protects pharmacists from criminal, civil, or disciplinary liability when following the order. Pharmacists must also submit annual reports to the state on dispensing volumes. The bill directly affects Texas pharmacists and patients seeking ivermectin without a prescription.
SB 39 requires health care providers to obtain written informed consent from a parent or guardian before administering vaccines to children, detailing benefits, risks, and vaccine injury compensation options. It prohibits providers from accepting bonuses or kickbacks from vaccine manufacturers, which the bill states creates a conflict of interest. If consent isn't obtained and a child has a reportable vaccine reaction, providers face civil liability up to $10,000 plus legal costs. This bill directly affects pediatric providers and parents/guardians in Texas, amending Family Code Section 32.102 to establish these requirements and penalties.
HB 281 establishes a statewide system for coordinating mental health services during disasters. It requires the Health and Human Services Commission to designate staff to work with emergency management, manage federal crisis counseling grants, maintain a registry of mental health professionals, and provide technical assistance to local authorities. Local mental health authorities must include disaster behavioral health plans in their emergency preparations, track personnel, and identify vulnerable groups like children, elderly residents, and individuals with disabilities. The bill mandates deployment of services within 72 hours of a disaster declaration and specifies services including crisis counseling, referrals, and support for first responders. It directly affects state agencies, local mental health authorities, and disaster-affected communities across Texas.
Texas Senate Bill 43 creates a new exception to the state's abortion ban for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault (as defined under specific Penal Code sections), without requiring the patient to file a police report, provide forensic evidence, or pursue prosecution. It repeals Chapter 6-1/2 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, which was the primary statute prohibiting abortion, and clarifies that this exception does not repeal other abortion regulations or restrict local governments from imposing stricter abortion bans. The bill exempts abortions performed under this exception from certain reporting requirements under Sections 171.203 and 171.204. This directly affects pregnant patients who have experienced sexual assault and healthcare providers performing abortions under this specific exception.
