The bill amends Section 161.007 of the Health and Safety Code to improve the management of the immunization registry and enhance the confidentiality of individuals' immunization data. It removes the requirement for written or electronic consent before an individual's information can be included in the registry, while allowing individuals or their legally authorized representatives to request exclusion from the registry at various points, including at birth and after immunizations. The bill ensures that individuals are not required to request exclusion more than once and that their information will not be included unless a subsequent request for inclusion is made. Additionally, it prohibits the use of registry information to deny services during disasters unless medically contraindicated and bans the sale of registry information to any entity.

Further provisions include the establishment of guidelines for notifying individuals about their immunization information in the registry and the procedures for requesting exclusion. The bill mandates that the department's institutional review board cannot approve the release of identifiable information for research without informed consent, and it requires compliance with state and federal privacy laws, including HIPAA. It also clarifies that individuals aged 18 or older cannot have their immunization information included in the registry without their consent after January 1, 2027. The Department of State Health Services is tasked with conducting a public awareness campaign about these changes, with most provisions taking effect on January 1, 2027, and the campaign starting on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 161.007, Health and Safety Code 161.00705, Health and Safety Code 161.00706, Health and Safety Code 161.0071, Health and Safety Code 161.0073, Health and Safety Code 161.00735, Health and Safety Code 161.008, Health and Safety Code 161.009, Health and Safety Code 161.0095, Health and Safety Code 161.0107 (Health and Safety Code 161)