H.B. No. 2532 seeks to enhance the licensing and regulation of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Texas by introducing new definitions and clarifications regarding their roles, which include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. The bill amends the Occupations Code to grant the Texas Board of Nursing the authority to license APRNs, establish educational and training requirements for prescribing medications, and create a system for issuing prescription authorization numbers. It also allows APRNs to practice independently in rural or medically underserved areas, provided they meet specific criteria and pay applicable fees. Key amendments include the establishment of Sections 301.357 and 301.358, which outline the independent practice and prescribing authority of APRNs, enabling them to perform various medical functions, including prescribing controlled substances.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Health and Safety Code and the Occupations Code to clarify the roles of APRNs and physician assistants (PAs) in medical care and prescribing medications. It mandates that hospitals inform elderly patients about pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, requiring administration if deemed beneficial by an APRN or PA before discharge. The legislation also allows APRNs and PAs to be recognized as primary care providers for medical assistance recipients and to order durable medical equipment under the medical assistance program. Notably, the bill redefines "advanced practice nurse" to align with "advanced practice registered nurse" and includes deletions such as the previous definition of "advanced practice nurse" and the repeal of Section 301.152(a) of the Occupations Code. The Texas Board of Nursing is tasked with implementing these changes by February 1, 2026, with the bill set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 301.002, Occupations Code 301.005, Occupations Code 301.152, Occupations Code 301.303, Education Code 38.151, Education Code 38.211, Education Code 38.225, Education Code 61.601, Estates Code 502.002, Government Code 671.001, Health and Safety Code 161.0052, Health and Safety Code 401.504, Health and Safety Code 481.002, Health and Safety Code 157.0511, Health and Safety Code 481.076, Health and Safety Code 481.0767, Health and Safety Code 483.001, Health and Safety Code 483.022, Health and Safety Code 301.358, Health and Safety Code 773.0145, Human Resources Code 32.024, Human Resources Code 32.03141, Human Resources Code 42.067, Insurance Code 843.312, Insurance Code 1452.051, Labor Code 408.025, Occupations Code 157.051, Occupations Code 203.002, Occupations Code 551.003, Occupations Code 157.0511, Occupations Code 563.053, Occupations Code 605.002, Occupations Code 605.2515, Occupations Code 1701.703 (Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 671, Education Code 61, Occupations Code 157, Occupations Code 551, Education Code 38, Health and Safety Code 301, Occupations Code 605, Labor Code 408, Health and Safety Code 157, Human Resources Code 32, Health and Safety Code 401, Health and Safety Code 481, Insurance Code 1452, Occupations Code 203, Occupations Code 563, Insurance Code 843, Health and Safety Code 773, Health and Safety Code 483, Estates Code 502, Occupations Code 1701, Health and Safety Code 161, Occupations Code 301)