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HB 2995

AN ACT relating to the provision of medication for respiratory distress in

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

Allows the Texas Department of State Health Services to issue a statewide standing order for respiratory distress medication to schools, enabling schools to obtain and store these medications without patient-specific prescriptions. School districts, charter schools, and private schools can now contract with vendors to acquire respiratory distress medications and provide training to school personnel and volunteers on how to administer these medications in emergency situations. The legislation aims to improve emergency respiratory care in educational settings by making medication more accessible and ensuring staff are prepared to help students experiencing respiratory distress.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the provision of medication for respiratory distress in
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 38.211, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as
(b-1)  The commissioner of state health services or, if the
commissioner is not a physician, the chief medical executive of the
Department of State Health Services may issue a statewide standing
order prescribing medication for respiratory distress to a school
district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school.
(c)  The standing order under Subsection (b) or (b-1) is not
required to be patient-specific, and the epinephrine auto-injector
or medication for respiratory distress may be administered to a
person without a previously established physician-patient
SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.2115 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.2115.  CONTRACTING FOR MEDICATION FOR RESPIRATORY
DISTRESS AND TRAINING.  The board of trustees of a school district
or governing body of an open-enrollment charter school or private
school may contract with a vendor to provide:
(1)  medication for respiratory distress and related
equipment to the district or school; and
(2)  training to school personnel and school volunteers
authorized to administer medication for respiratory distress under
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the provision of medication for respiratory distress in