The bill, S.B. No. 2356, aims to enhance hospital staffing report processes and provide protections against retaliation and mandatory overtime for nurses in Texas. It amends the Health and Safety Code by defining key terms such as "Commission" and introducing a "Committee" for nurse staffing. The bill mandates the development of a reporting process for staffing data and requires the Department of State Health Services to provide this data to the Health and Human Services Commission for enforcement. Additionally, it establishes a prohibition against retaliation by hospitals against nurses who report violations or provide information to the staffing committee.

Furthermore, the bill introduces Chapter 258A, which outlines the enforcement of hospital nurse staffing and overtime requirements. It mandates the commission to create a web page for nurses to report violations, investigate these reports, and notify hospitals of alleged violations while ensuring due process. The commission is also empowered to impose administrative penalties on hospitals that submit false information or violate staffing regulations. The executive commissioner is tasked with developing a penalty schedule based on the impact of violations on patient care and public interest. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with rules to be adopted by December 31, 2025, to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 257.001, Health and Safety Code 257.005 (Health and Safety Code 257)