The 88th Texas Legislature is in Session!

TODAY is the last day to register for the Texas Nurse Practitioners Capitol Day in Austin on Friday, February 3rd. You can register and find more information HERE.

As a reminder, the 88th Texas Legislature is now in session. For 140 days total, our State Representatives will be conducting the business of Texas. Full Practice Authority continues to be a hot topic for expanding the provision of quality and safe healthcare access for patients. Courtesy of TNP, here are some of the bills that will potentially impact our nursing practice and healthcare overall in Texas:

• H.B. 112/S.B. 240: This bill will address workplace violence prevention in certain health facilities.
• H.B. 724/S.B. 161: This bill would prohibit a board from taking action against a person licensed by a different board. Instead, it would require the complaint to be referred to the license issuer.
• SB 408: This bill would make part-time faculty eligible for the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program and allow the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to determine loan amounts based on the number of hours worked.
• H.B. 901/S.B. 244: This bill would support nursing-related post-secondary education, including loan repayment assistance to nursing faculty and grants to nursing education programs. This bill would also extend a provision in state law that allows funds to flow into the Nursing Innovation Grant Program instead of directing them to allied health funding.
• H.B. 990: This bill would create a task force to assess diversity in the state's nursing workforce and identify initiatives to diversify the workforce. The task force would have one member who represents the Texas Nurses Association.
• S.B. 304/308: This bill would, among other things, prohibit providers from refusing to treat patients based on vaccination status. It would also prohibit hospitals and other healthcare facilities from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment.
• H.B. 173: This bill would create licensure for genetic counselors. Counselors would need a referral from a physician, PA, or APRN.
• H.B. 593: This bill would broaden the current direct primary care law. First, it would expand the types of care by changing "primary" to "patient." Second, it would expand the types of providers who can use the programs by changing "physician" to "practitioner."
• H.B. 691: This bill would require that students be removed from athletic activities if a person determines that the student is exhibiting warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest during practice or competition. Coaches, physicians, licensed healthcare professionals, school nurses, and parents would elect to make this determination.
• H.B. 617/S.B. 251: This bill would establish a pilot project to provide emergency medical telemedicine and telehealth services in rural areas. 

Your Legislative Co-Chairs,

Angela Gooden DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC

Heather Soni, APRN, CPNP