H.B. No. 1700 amends the Occupations Code by adding new subsections that require regulatory agencies overseeing health professionals who provide telemedicine, teledentistry, or telehealth services to establish standardized rules for the documentation and retention of patient consent records. Specifically, these rules must address consent for treatment, data collection, and data sharing. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the rules include specific consent documentation requirements for each type of service and provisions for consent documentation in an audio-only format, adhering to the appropriate standard of care.

The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, following its passage in both the House and Senate with overwhelming support. This legislative change aims to enhance the consistency and reliability of consent documentation in telehealth practices, thereby improving patient care and compliance with legal standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)
House Committee Report: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)
Engrossed: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)
Senate Committee Report: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)
Enrolled: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)