The bill, titled "Vaccine Administration Requirements and Protection of Immunization Exemptions for Health Reasons," introduces new provisions to the Health and Safety Code in Texas. It adds Sections 161.0035 and 161.0045, which establish specific requirements for individuals administering vaccines. These requirements include providing written information on the vaccine's benefits and risks, maintaining permanent records of vaccine details, documenting any serious health problems following vaccination, reporting adverse events to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and supplying patients with the Vaccine Excipient Summary. Additionally, the bill stipulates that violations of these requirements may lead to disciplinary action for licensed individuals and allows for civil actions against those who violate the provisions.

Furthermore, the bill outlines protections for health exemptions related to immunizations. It defines a "health exemption" as a statement from a licensed health care practitioner indicating that a vaccine poses a significant health risk to the patient. The bill prohibits governmental officials from questioning or sanctioning practitioners for granting such exemptions and mandates that various entities, including schools and employers, accept these health exemptions. Violations of this provision also carry potential disciplinary actions, and individuals may pursue civil actions for enforcement. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()