88th Texas Legislature Laws Now In Effect

Over 770 new laws were passed during the 88th Texas Legislature convened from January through May earlier this year. On September 1st, many of these regular legislative session laws officially went into effect. Below, we've highlighted a few noteworthy changes that will, directly and indirectly, affect NP practice.

House Bills

• HB 12 extends Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from two months to one year.
• HB 3009 amends current law to allow APRNs and PAs to complete the patient exam and letter or certificate for guardianship proceedings. However, the delegating physician must sign the letter or certificate of evaluation.
• HB 3126 increased the number of days hospitals had to wait to remove a patient from life support after notifying the patient's family to 25 days (previously 10).

Senate Bills

• SB 14 prohibits healthcare providers from performing procedures and providing treatments (including prescribing/refilling medications) for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria for children.
• SB 29 prohibits mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and private business and school closure mandates by government entities in the state as a public health response to COVID-19.
• SB 379 will remove state tax on feminine hygiene products, baby products, maternity clothes, and breast-milk pumping products.
• SB 490 requires healthcare providers to provide patients with an itemized bill in plain language for every service before any attempts to collect debt.
• SB 840 increases the criminal penalty for assaulting hospital workers (APRNs, physicians, physician assistants, maintenance or janitorial staff, receptionists, and other individuals employed by or working in a hospital) from a misdemeanor to a felony. This law is named the Jacqueline “Jackie” Pokuaa and Katie “Annette” Flowers Act in memory of the nurse and social worker shot and killed at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in 2022.
• SB 1343 adds an APRN representative to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) and establishes new APRN peer review requirements as part of the BON investigation process.

Be sure to review the complete list (found HERE); you’ll see these laws span a variety of topics, including health care, education, and public safety.

--Houston Area NAPNAP Legislative Co-Chairs