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HB 2845

AN ACT relating to the designation of controlled substance overdose for

House Bill
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Requires death certificates to more precisely document drug overdose deaths by mandating specific terminology based on toxicology and autopsy results. For deaths involving Penalty Group 1-B substances like fentanyl, the certificate must state "Fentanyl Poisoning" if lethal amounts are confirmed, while other controlled substance overdoses must be labeled "Controlled Substance Overdose" with the specific drug type noted when possible. The goal is to provide more accurate and detailed documentation of drug-related fatalities, which could help public health officials better track and understand overdose trends.

Subject Areas

BIRTH & DEATH CERTIFICATES Crimes--Drugs Health--General AUTOPSIES

Bill Text

relating to the designation of controlled substance overdose for
purposes of the death certificate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 193.005(e-1), Health and Safety Code, is
(e-1)  The medical certification on a death certificate must
(1)  either the term "Fentanyl Poisoning" or the term
(A) [(1)]  a toxicology examination reveals a
controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1-B present in the
body of the decedent in an amount or concentration that is
considered to be lethal by generally accepted scientific standards;
(B) [(2)]  the results of an autopsy performed on
the decedent are consistent with an opioid overdose as the cause of
(2)  the term "Controlled Substance Overdose" and, if
possible to ascertain, the type of controlled substance present in
(A)  a toxicology examination reveals a
controlled substance, other than a controlled substance listed in
Penalty Group 1-B, present in the body of the decedent in an amount
or concentration that is considered to be lethal by generally
accepted scientific standards; and
(B)  the results of an autopsy performed on the
decedent are consistent with a controlled substance overdose as the
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a death that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act or
a death that occurs before that date but is discovered on or after
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the designation of controlled substance overdose for

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