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HB 3029

AN ACT relating to the administration of nonprescription medications to

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 public and private school employees, including nurses, to administer nonprescription medications to students without additional authorization from a healthcare provider, provided they have written parental consent, the medication is unexpired, and administered according to the container's label instructions. The legislation provides civil liability immunity for schools, their boards, and employees when administering medication following these guidelines. The bill takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and aims to streamline medication administration processes in school settings while maintaining safeguards for student health and safety.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the administration of nonprescription medications to
certain public and private school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 22.052, Education Code,
Sec. 22.052.  ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION BY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOL, OR PRIVATE SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES OR VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS;  IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.
SECTION 2.  Section 22.052, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
(a)  On the adoption of policies concerning the
administration of medication to students by school district,
open-enrollment charter school, or private school employees, the
school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private
school, its board of trustees[,] or other governing body, as
applicable, and its employees are immune from civil liability from
damages or injuries resulting from the administration of medication
(1)  the [school] district or school has received a
written request to administer the medication from the parent, legal
guardian, or other person having legal control of the student; and
(2)  when administering prescription medication, the
medication is administered either:
(A)  from a container that appears to be:
(i)  the original container; and
(B)  from a properly labeled unit dosage container
filled by a registered nurse or another qualified district or
school employee, as determined by the [district] policy adopted
under this subsection, from a container described by Paragraph (A).
(a-1)  A policy adopted under Subsection (a) may permit a
school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school
employee, including a nurse, to administer nonprescription
medication to a student without further authorization or written
protocol from the student's health care provider if:
(1)  the district or school has received a written
request to administer the medication from the parent, legal
guardian, or other person having legal control of the student;
(2)  the medication is unexpired and administered from
a container that appears to be:
(A)  the original container; and
(3)  the dose administered is consistent with the
instructions on the container's label.
(b)  The board of trustees or other governing body, as
applicable, may allow a licensed physician or registered nurse who
provides volunteer services to the school district,
open-enrollment charter school, or private school and for whom the
district or school provides liability insurance to administer to a
(1)  nonprescription medication; or
(2)  medication currently prescribed for the student by
the student's health care provider [personal physician].
SECTION 3.  Section 301.002(2), Occupations Code, is amended
(2)  "Professional nursing" means the performance of an
act that requires substantial specialized judgment and skill, the
proper performance of which is based on knowledge and application
of the principles of biological, physical, and social science as
acquired by a completed course in an approved school of
professional nursing.  The term does not include acts of medical
diagnosis or the prescription of therapeutic or corrective
measures.  Professional nursing involves:
(A)  the observation, assessment, intervention,
evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel, or health teachings
of a person who is ill, injured, infirm, or experiencing a change in
(B)  the maintenance of health or prevention of
(i)  a medication or treatment as ordered by
a physician, podiatrist, or dentist; or
(ii)  a nonprescription medication to a
student in a public or private school in accordance with Section
(D)  the supervision or teaching of nursing;
(E)  the administration, supervision, and
evaluation of nursing practices, policies, and procedures;
(F)  the requesting, receiving, signing for, and
distribution of prescription drug samples to patients at practices
at which an advanced practice registered nurse is authorized to
sign prescription drug orders as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter
(G)  the performance of an act delegated by a
physician under Section 157.0512, 157.054, 157.058, or 157.059; and
(H)  the development of the nursing care plan.
SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 5.  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 administration of nonprescription medications to