House Bill No. 2475 aims to enhance medical education in Texas by mandating coursework in cultural competence and implicit bias for medical students. The bill introduces Section 51.310 to the Education Code, which requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish rules that ensure medical schools offer approved coursework in these areas. Furthermore, it stipulates that students must successfully complete the required hours of this coursework to be eligible for a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

Additionally, the bill adds Section 153.017 to the Occupations Code, defining "cultural competence" and "implicit bias" and outlining the requirements for the coursework to be approved by the Texas Medical Board. The approved coursework must address medical decisions and treatment related to various demographic factors and be developed in consultation with relevant educational and medical organizations. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Medical Board are required to adopt the necessary rules by December 1, 2025, with the new requirements applying to students enrolling in medical programs on or after January 1, 2026. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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