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Legislative CornerLegislative CornerIf you are interested in participating in any of our advocacy efforts, including in-person lobbying, sending emails and calling your lawmakers to advance pharmacy legislation, sign up here. October 2, 2025Second Special Session Pharmacy Bill PassedHB 25 bill passed during the 2nd special session of the 2025 legislature. The bill requires pharmacies to dispense ivermectin without a prescription. The Texas State Board of Pharmacy will be required to write regulations to implement this new law. Legislators against the bill’s passage cited the Texas Medical Association and the American Society of Health System Pharmacist statements in opposition to the bill. HB 25: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=892&Bill=HB25 Watch the House discussion of the bill: https://house.texas.gov/videos/22532 June 10, 2025Passed bills explainedHere is a rundown of some of the bills passed during the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. PBM ReformSB 1236 (Hughes)The bill regulates PBM audit practices by prohibiting a health benefit plan issuer or pharmacy benefit manager from denying or reducing claim payment due to an audit, ensures compliance with existing PBM laws and prohibits unilateral changes on key contractual provisions such as reimbursement rates during a PBM contract term. SB 493 (Kolkhorst)The bill further limits PBM gag clauses; PBM’s cannot prohibit a pharmacy from informing an enrollee of any difference between the enrollee’s out-of-pocket cost for a prescription drug under the enrollee’s prescription drug benefit and the out-of-pocket cost without submitting a claim under the enrollee’s prescription drug benefit. Location of patient data maintained by PBMSHB 3233 (Harris)A pharmacy benefit manager may not store or process patient data for a resident of this state in a location outside of the United States or its territories. VaccinesSB 269 (Perry)Reports of certain vaccine-related or drug-related adverse events | Requires reporting of vaccine adverse events to the state. The Texas Medical Association testified against this bill because it requires duplicative work. They are currently required to report to CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting system (VERS). HB 4535: (McQueeney)COVID-19 vaccine administration requirements | Requires health care providers, including pharmacists, to obtain informed consent from a patient before administering the COVID vaccine. Disciplinary action for violating this section is to be imposed by the appropriate licensing authority. Providers also must give patients a standardized information sheet that includes:
Health Professions Workforce CouncilHB 3801(Orr)Establishes the Coordinating Council to study and develop a strategic approach for ensuring a thriving health care system and health professions workforce in Texas. Texas Pharmaceutical InitiativeHB 4638 (Bonnen)Increases the number of TPI board members and extends the entity until 2033. TPI was created by the Legislature in 2023 to provide cost-effective access to prescription drugs to individuals receiving health benefits paid for by the state. June 4, 20252025 Texas Legislature gets some bills passedThe Texas 2025 legislative session concluded June 2. In the end, six pharmacy-relatd bills passed.
These bills did not pass: PBM ReformHB 3233 (Harris)Passed House and reported favorably by the Senate HHS committee.A pharmacy benefit manager may not store or process patient data for a resident of this state in a location outside of the United States or its territories. ImmunizationsHB 3540 (Harless, Howard, Darby)Passed the House and heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee but was not referred to the Senate for a voteThe bill would allow pharmacists to order and administer recommended childhood vaccines to individuals 5 years and older (3 years and older for influenza) and allows pharmacists to delegate vaccine administration to a certified pharmacy technician. Texas Pharmaceutical InitiativeHB 4638 (Bonnen)Passed House and Senate. The House is considering Senate Amendments.The bill Increases the number of TPI board members and extends the entity until 2033. TPI was created by the Legislature in 2023 to provide cost-effective access to prescription drugs to individuals receiving health benefits paid for by the state. InsulinHB 632 (Bucy)Passed House and out of Senate committee.The bill allows pharmacists to dispense more than a 30-day emergency supply of insulin if that is smallest available package size. BiologicsSB 1098 (Blanco)Passed by Senate; passed by House Public Health Committee and sent to Calendars Committee to schedule a floor vote.
Ophthalmologist DispensingHB 4539 (Johnson)Passed by the House and reported favorably out of Senate HHS committee.
May 28, 2025Latest update on Texas Pharmacy BillsThe Texas 2025 legislative session ends on June 2. Important dates have passed in the legislature, making it impossible for the medication history bill (SB 1675/HB 4106) to pass in either chamber. While it’s disappointing the bills were not heard before the legislative committees, allowing all stakeholders to provide input, we will spend the interim between sessions talking to lawmakers about the bill and gathering more evidence that supports the bill’s goal of reducing medication errors of high-risk patients. Here is a list of the pharmacy bills and their impact on pharmacy professionals. PBM ReformSB 1236 (Hughes)Sent to GovernorThe bill regulates PBM audit practices by prohibiting a health benefit plan issuer or pharmacy benefit manager from denying or reducing claim payment due to an audit, ensures compliance with existing PBM laws and prohibits unilateral changes on key contractual provisions such as reimbursement rates during a PBM contract term. SB 493 (Kolkhorst)Sent to Governor.The bill further limits PBM gag clauses; PBM’s cannot prohibit a pharmacy from informing an enrollee of any difference between the enrollee’s out-of-pocket cost for a prescription drug under the enrollee’s prescription drug benefit and the out-of-pocket cost without submitting a claim under the enrollee’s prescription drug benefit. ImmunizationsHB 3540 (Harless, Howard, Darby)Passed the House and heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee but was not referred to the Senate for a voteThe bill would allow pharmacists to order and administer recommended childhood vaccines to individuals 5 years and older (3 years and older for influenza) and allows pharmacists to delegate vaccine administration to a certified pharmacy technician. Texas Pharmaceutical InitiativeHB 4638 (Bonnen)Passed House and Senate. The House is considering Senate Amendments.The bill Increases the number of TPI board members and extends the entity until 2033. TPI was created by the Legislature in 2023 to provide cost-effective access to prescription drugs to individuals receiving health benefits paid for by the state. InsulinHB 632 (Bucy)Passed House and out of Senate committee.Passed House and out of Senate committee. It currently is on the Senate Intent Calendar. The bill allows pharmacists to dispense more than a 30-day emergency supply of insulin if that is smallest available package size. Health Professions Workforce Coordinating CouncilHB 3801(Orr)Passed out and reported favorably from Senate HHS committee
BiologicsSB 1098 (Blanco)Passed by Senate; passed by House Public Health Committee and sent to Calendars Committee to schedule a floor vote.
Ophthalmologist DispensingHB 4539 (Johnson)Passed by the House and reported favorably out of Senate HHS committee.
May 23, 2025Impact of Pharmacy Bills on Pharmacists and TechniciansThe Texas 2025 legislative session ends on June 2. Important dates have passed in the legislature, making it impossible for the medication history bill (SB 1675/HB 4106) to pass in either chamber. While it’s disappointing the bills were not heard before the legislative committees, allowing all stakeholders to provide input, we will spend the interim between sessions talking to lawmakers about the bill and gathering more evidence that supports the bill’s goal of reducing medication errors of high-risk patients. Here is a list of the pharmacy bills and their impact on pharmacy professionals. Vaccine-related billsSB 269 (Perry)Passed Senate and House
HB 4535 (McQueeny)Passed House and in Senate HHS committee
PBM RegulationSB 1236 (Hughes)Sent to Governor
HB 3233 (Harris)Passed House and reported favorably by the Senate HHS committee
Health Professions Workforce Coordinating CouncilHB 3801(Orr)Passed out and reported favorably from Senate HHS committee
InsulinHB 632 (Bucy)Passed House; currently in the Senate HHS committee.
BiologicsSB 1098 (Blanco)Passed by Senate; passed by House Public Health Committee and sent to Calendars Committee to schedule a floor vote.
Ophthalmologist DispensingHB 4539 (Johnson)Passed by the House and reported favorably out of Senate HHS committee.
May 16, 2025Progress at the Capitol
Pictured during a live session livestream, State Representative Joe Moody (District 78) displays a comically large clock to demonstrate the impending end of the legislative cycle in the Texas House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Austin May 15. All Pharmacy bills that originated in the House and didn't pass the midnight deadline that day are no longer eligible for passage. Attention now shifts to bills in play in the Senate. We have an update on pharmacy bills currently before the 2025 Texas legislature. Click here for descriptions, statuses and links to the full text of each pharmacy bill filed during the current legislative cycle. April 25, 2025Pharmacy bills at the CapitolThere are pharmacy bills currently before the 2025 Texas legislature. Click below for a breakdown in descriptions, statuses, and links to bill text of all pharmacy bills. April 15, 2025Medication History Bills filedThe TSHP medication history bill has been filed in the Senate (SB 1675, Menendez, Miles) and the House (HB 4106, Johnson). The bills have been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Public Health Committee. The bill requires hospital pharmacy staff at acute hospitals with more than 100 beds to obtain an accurate medication profile or list for each high-risk patient upon admission. TSHP members can support the passage of these bills by contacting your House and Senate members and encourage them to vote for the bill. If your representative or senator is on one of the health committees, TSHP will email you if you are a member and post here and on social media the dates and times the committees will be having a hearing on the bills. The Senate will have the first hearing. You can submit comments online or testify in person at the Texas Capitol. February 5, 2025Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingHosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. Topic: Virtual Capitol Tour and How to Advocate When You Aren’t in Austin January 19, 2025TSHP goes to the Capitol for Lobby DayThirty-three TSHP members met with 35 legislative offices seeking support for our Medication History Legislative Proposal. It requires pharmacy staff at acute hospitals with more than one hundred beds to obtain a medication profile for high-risk patients upon hospital admission. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Members provided compelling arguments to support the bill and shared their professional perspective about the vital role hospital pharmacy plays in preventing medication errors. Thank you to TSHP leadership for supporting this effort and President Jeff Wagner for visiting the most legislative offices! Follow pharmacy legislation and TSHP advocacy efforts at the Legislative Corner.
January 16, 2025Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingHosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. Topic: Your Voice Matters – Legislator and Staff January 8, 2025Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingHosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. Topic: Media Pundits-Politics, Elections, and Outlook for the Upcoming Session. Recording coming soon! December 13, 2024Register for the Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingWe’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2nd virtual training session in the 2024-2025 Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy Training Series! Join us on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM for an engaging session with Media Pundits discussing politics, elections, and the outlook for the 89th Legislative Session. Hosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. To Register: Simply click the link next to the January 8 session below. Once registered, you’ll receive a Zoom link and calendar invite to join the virtual training.
Topic: Media Pundits-Politics, Elections, and Outlook for the Upcoming Session Recording coming soon!
Topic: Your Voice Matters – Legislator and Staff Recording coming soon! Topic: Virtual Capitol Tour and How to Advocate When You Aren’t in Austin Recording coming soon! November 21, 2024WEBINAR: TSHP Legislative Series - Med History FocusTSHP 2025 legislative session activity is beginning! Our leadership has prioritized passing a Medication History bill. It is a patient safety protocol that has proven to be very effective in reducing medication errors during transitions of
care for high-risk patients. It will require hospital pharmacy staff at acute care hospitals with more than 100 beds obtain an accurate medication profile for each high-risk patient upon admission. November 20, 2024Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingHosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. Topic: Pharmacy Policy Issues. Recording coming soon! November 19, 2024Texas Pharmacy Congress meetsMember organizations of the Texas Pharmacy Congress met to discuss the legislative issues facing pharmacy this legislative cycle. Each organization presented its priorities and discussed ways to assist each other in achieving our goals of advancing the pharmacy profession. Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP)Medication HistoriesTexas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS)Immunizations— Pharmacy Technicians can continue as immunizers Test and Treat — For minor ailments, i.e., UTI, ring worm, athletes foot Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA)PPM Reform— HB 1919 Medicaid MCO Payment Reform — In 13 states today – including all 4 states that share a border with Texas November 15, 2024Coalition pushes for ECAPSThe Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition is making a final push to get the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) included in a end-of-year legislative package. Congress will have to pass at least one more piece of major legislation to keep the Federal Government funded beyond December 20, with relatively few working days remaining until a potential vote. On November 15, the Coalition sent an additional letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of ECAPS before the end of 2024 and included signatures of all organizations that had previously expressed support for ECAPS dating back to when the bill was first introduced in March 2023. November 13, 2024Texas Pharmacy Virtual Advocacy TrainingHosted by the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP), and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), this series empowers Texas pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to advocate for impactful change. Each session features expert insights from legislators, media professionals, and advocacy leaders. Topic: Election Wrap-up and Legislative Action. October 22, 2024TSHP hosts TSBP USP Discussion“Who’s Talking to TSHP” is one of TSHP's newest webinar series. Episode 4 features an open forum discussion regarding the proposed revisions to TSBP’s regulations regarding Sterile Compounding. View recording here August 20, 2024PBM bills in CongressFrustration with Pharmacy Benefit Managers on the state and national level has led to multiple bills filed in Congress to address the high cost of drugs and the stranglehold PBMs have on consumers with public and private insurance. The requirement that drugs be obtained from PBM owned specialty pharmacies, minimal reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities don’t always cover the cost of the drugs and providers who prepare and administer medications. Three PBMs control a staggering 80% of the market, and those PBMs are owned by three large healthcare insurers leading to a monopolistic marketplace that controls all the levers of drug pricing. Three PBM-related bills below are currently being considered by Congress. S. 2973/H.R. 5378
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