The bill, S.B. No. 96, introduces new requirements for vaccine administration and strengthens protections for immunization exemptions based on health reasons in Texas. It adds Sections 161.0035 and 161.0045 to the Health and Safety Code. Under Section 161.0035, individuals administering vaccines must provide written information about the vaccine's benefits and risks, maintain permanent records of vaccine details, document any serious health issues following vaccination, report adverse events to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and provide patients with the Vaccine Excipient Summary. Violations of these requirements can lead to disciplinary actions and civil lawsuits for enforcement.

Section 161.0045 establishes protections for health exemptions, defining a "health exemption" as a statement from a licensed health care practitioner indicating that a vaccine poses a significant health risk to a patient. It prohibits governmental officials from questioning or sanctioning practitioners for granting such exemptions and mandates that various entities, including schools and employers, accept these exemptions and exempt individuals from immunization requirements. Similar to Section 161.0035, violations of this section can result in disciplinary actions and civil lawsuits. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

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