October 7, 2023 update. Two of these bills passed and were signed into law. The rest died in committee, the majority passed in the Senate but were never voted on in the House.
The pandemic brought forth a host of public health issues and thankfully many of our congressmen and women in Texas are fighting to restore patient autonomy and protect patients and physicians from medical tyranny. Please find and contact your legislators this week before the session ends in June.
Here are the ones to watch:
HB 81/ SB 177 Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Freedom Act
Authors: Mayes Middleton and Brian Harrison
Died in House Committee. Now under further consideration in a Special Session announced 10/6/23.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“Any attempt to compel or coerce an individual lawfully residing in this state into being vaccinated against COVID-19 contrary to the individual’s preference is inconsistent with the principles of informed consent.”
“A person may not take an adverse action or impose a penalty of any kind against an individual lawfully residing in this state for the individual’s refusal or failure to obtain medical treatment involving the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.”
“The Attorney General may bring an action for injunctive relief against a person to prevent the person from violating this section.”
Dr. Jimmy Widmer, head of TEXPAC, the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, testified against this bill. He was appointed by Governor Abbott to the Texas Medical Board District Four Review Committee.
SB 1583 Prohibit Government Funding of Gain-of-Function Research in Texas
Author: Bob Hall
Died in Committee.
Out of committee, Senate floor vote pending.
“AN ACT relating to prohibiting institutions of higher education or entities receiving public funds from conducting gain of function research on potentially pandemic pathogens in this state; creating a civil penalty.”
HB 1313/ SB 403 Investigate COVID-19 Adverse Reactions
Author: Dustin Burrows
Died in committee.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“An act relating to a study on the side effects, adverse reactions, including death, and the effectiveness of vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) or its variants.”
SB 426 Right to Treat Act
Author: Bob Hall, Angela Paxton
Died in House Committee.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“This Act is intended to enable a patient to access and a physician to prescribe, administer, and dispense for off-label use prescription drugs that may aid in the patient's treatment of and recovery from COVID-19.”
SB 301 Protect Physicians and Pharmacists who Prescribe or Dispense Ivermectin and/or Hydroxychloroquine
Author: Bob Hall
Died in House Committee.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“PROHIBITED GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. The state agency with licensing or regulatory authority over a health care provider or pharmacist may not revoke, fail to renew, suspend, or take any action against the health care provider's or pharmacist's license, permit, registration, certificate, or other authority based solely on the health care provider or pharmacist prescribing, dispensing, administering, or otherwise providing ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine sulfate to a patient. CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS BY PHARMACIST PROHIBITED. A pharmacist may not contact a health care provider or patient to dispute the efficacy or otherwise provide medical advice on the safety of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine sulfate for human consumption unless the provider or patient asks the pharmacist about the efficacy or safety of those drugs.”
SB 265 Require Physicians to Report to VAERS
Author: Charles Perry
Died in House Committee.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“REQUIRED REPORT OF CERTAIN VACCINE-RELATED INJURIES AND ADVERSE EVENTS.
(a) This section applies only to a vaccine that is: (1) experimental or investigational; or (2) approved or authorized for emergency use by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, for a vaccine to which this section applies a physician shall report to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System: (1) each potential vaccine-related injury of a patient the physician treats; and (2) any adverse event following the patient's vaccination.
(c) A physician who violates this section is subject to disciplinary action by the Texas Medical Board as if the physician violated Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code.”
SB 52 Require Hospitals to Allow Visitors
Author: Judith Zaffirini
Passed and signed into law.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“AN ACT relating to the right of state hospital patients to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.”
SB 749/ HB 1105 Give More Power to Pharmacists
Author: Four Price
Died in Committee.
Passed the House, awaiting Senate vote.
“AN ACT relating to the administration of a medication and the ordering and administration of an immunization or vaccination by a pharmacist.” Allows pharmacists to administer immunizations to children as young as 3 years old and without an order from a physician.
SB 666 Prevent Frivolous and Fraudulent Reports to the Texas Medical Board
Author: Bob Hall
Died in House Committee.
Passed in the Senate.
“AN ACT relating to complaint information and disciplinary procedures of the Texas Medical Board.” Brings transparency and accountability to complaint procedures against physicians in Texas.
Opposed by Associate VP of Public Affairs for the Texas Medical Association, Michelle Romero.
HB 1686/ SB 14 Prohibit Gender Transitioning Procedures and Treatments for Minors
Author: Tom Oliverson
Passed and signed into law.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“An act relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.”
Opposed by pediatrician and head of the Texas Medical Association, Dr. Gary Floyd.
SB 162 Assign Sex on Birth Certificate
Author: Charles Perry
Died in House Committee.
Passed the Senate, awaiting House vote.
“AN ACT relating to the required inclusion of a person's sex on a birth certificate and prohibited change of sex on the birth certificate of certain minors… SECTION 1. Section 192.002, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (c-1) The form must include a space for recording the biological sex of a child as either male or female.”
Many important public health-related bills are still stuck in committee. At least 15 of these are related to prohibiting “gender-affirming care” and 9 are related to protecting health freedom. Please contact your legislators today to voice your opinion.