BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2626 89R10984 JTZ-F By: Campbell; Paxton State Affairs 4/4/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Since the passage of S.B. 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, there has been a significant drop in the number of abortions in the state of Texas. S.B. 8 serves as a landmark piece of legislation solidifying Texas' pro-life agenda. However, recent reports have highlighted a perceived ambiguity among some medical providers regarding what constitutes a "medical emergency" as outlined in the bill, which could result in delayed or denied care due to this perceived ambiguity and the strict consequences associated with an improper declaration. S.B. 2626 aims to address this issue by requiring continuing education for certain physicians and nurses. Conditions like ectopic pregnancies, such as when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus or in another nonviable location, pose significant health risks to pregnant women. Timely and appropriate medical intervention is critical in these cases. Physicians specializing in obstetrics or gynecology, as well as certain nurses, will be required to complete at least one hour of board-approved continuing medical education focused on the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies. This training must cover standards of care, recognizing and responding to pregnancy-related medical emergencies, the definitions of abortion and medical emergencies under Texas law, permissible interventions, and communication strategies for discussing these situations with patients and their families. Key Provisions: Amends Section 245.002 of the Health and Safety Code to outline the one-hour requirement for continuing medical education (CME). Outlines the minimum requirements for CME and tasks the Texas Medical Board (TMB) with approving and developing a comprehensive curriculum for physicians on pregnancy emergencies that require medical intervention. Tasks the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) with creating the curriculum and identifying the types of nurses who would need to complete the required CME. Committee Substitute: Narrows the scope of the bill from requiring all physicians to take abortion-related CME to only physicians specializing in obstetrics or gynecology. Changes the timing requirement from one hour within the first two license renewal periods to one hour by the first anniversary of initial licensure following passage. Modifies the required one-hour CME frequency from every eight years to every six years. As proposed, S.B. 2626 amends current law relating to ectopic pregnancies and continuing education for certain physicians and nurses regarding treatment of certain pregnancy-related conditions. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Medical Board in SECTION 2 (Section 156.061, Occupations Code) of this bill. Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Nursing in SECTION 3 (Section 301.309, Occupations Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 245.002(4-a), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "ectopic pregnancy." SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, by adding Section 156.061, as follows: Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) Defines "abortion," "ectopic pregnancy," and "medical emergency." (b) Requires a physician licensed under Subtitle B (Physicians) who submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and whose practice includes treating pregnant women to complete, in accordance with this section, at least one hour of continuing medical education (CME) approved by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) on the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, and situations involving a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by a spontaneous abortion. (c) Requires that CME required under Subsection (b) include instruction on standards of care for managing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b); identification of and timely response to a medical emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that requires intervention; how abortion is defined under Section 245.002 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn life; how medical emergency is defined under Section 171.002 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and communication strategies for effectively discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b) with patients and their families. (d) Requires a physician to complete one hour of CME required by Subsection (b) in each of the first two renewal periods following the issuance of the physician's initial registration permit under Chapter 156 (Registration of Physicians), with one hour to be completed not later than the first anniversary of the date of issuance. (e) Requires a physician, after the period described by Subsection (d), to complete not less than one hour of CME as described by Subsection (b) every eight years. (f) Authorizes the hours required by this section to be counted towards the hours of CME required by Section 156.051(a)(2) (relating to requiring TMB to adopt and administer rules that require at least one-half of the hours of CME to be board approved). (g) Requires TMB to adopt rules to implement this section, including rules to establish the content of and approval requirements for CME required under this section. SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, by adding Section 301.309, as follows: Sec. 301.309. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) Defines "abortion," "ectopic pregnancy," and "medical emergency." (b) Provides that, as a part of a continuing competency program under Section 301.303 (Continuing Competency), a license holder whose practice includes treating pregnant women and who is required under the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) rules to comply with this section is required to complete at least one hour of continuing education during each two-year licensing period relating to the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, and situations involving a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by a spontaneous abortion. (c) Requires that the continuing education under Subsection (b) include instruction on standards of care for managing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b); identification of and timely response to a medical emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that requires intervention; how abortion is defined under Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn life; how medical emergency is defined under Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and communication strategies for effectively discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b) with patients and their families. (d) Provides that the continuing education required under Subsection (b) must be part of a program approved under Section 301.303(c) (relating to requiring BON by rule to establish a system for the approval of programs and providers of continuing education). (e) Requires BON to adopt rules to identify the license holders who are required to complete continuing education under Subsection (b) and to establish the content of that continuing education. Authorizes BON to adopt other rules to implement this section, including rules under Section 301.303(c) for the approval of education programs and providers. SECTION 4. (a) Requires TMB, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 156.061, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. (b) Requires BON, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 5. (a) Makes application of Section 156.031, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2026. (b) Makes application of Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2026. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2626
89R10984 JTZ-F By: Campbell; Paxton
State Affairs
4/4/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2626
89R10984 JTZ-F
By: Campbell; Paxton
State Affairs
4/4/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Since the passage of S.B. 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, there has been a significant drop in the number of abortions in the state of Texas. S.B. 8 serves as a landmark piece of legislation solidifying Texas' pro-life agenda. However, recent reports have highlighted a perceived ambiguity among some medical providers regarding what constitutes a "medical emergency" as outlined in the bill, which could result in delayed or denied care due to this perceived ambiguity and the strict consequences associated with an improper declaration.
S.B. 2626 aims to address this issue by requiring continuing education for certain physicians and nurses. Conditions like ectopic pregnancies, such as when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus or in another nonviable location, pose significant health risks to pregnant women. Timely and appropriate medical intervention is critical in these cases.
Physicians specializing in obstetrics or gynecology, as well as certain nurses, will be required to complete at least one hour of board-approved continuing medical education focused on the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies. This training must cover standards of care, recognizing and responding to pregnancy-related medical emergencies, the definitions of abortion and medical emergencies under Texas law, permissible interventions, and communication strategies for discussing these situations with patients and their families.
Key Provisions:
1. Amends Section 245.002 of the Health and Safety Code to outline the one-hour requirement for continuing medical education (CME).
2. Outlines the minimum requirements for CME and tasks the Texas Medical Board (TMB) with approving and developing a comprehensive curriculum for physicians on pregnancy emergencies that require medical intervention.
3. Tasks the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) with creating the curriculum and identifying the types of nurses who would need to complete the required CME.
Committee Substitute:
1. Narrows the scope of the bill from requiring all physicians to take abortion-related CME to only physicians specializing in obstetrics or gynecology.
2. Changes the timing requirement from one hour within the first two license renewal periods to one hour by the first anniversary of initial licensure following passage.
3. Modifies the required one-hour CME frequency from every eight years to every six years.
As proposed, S.B. 2626 amends current law relating to ectopic pregnancies and continuing education for certain physicians and nurses regarding treatment of certain pregnancy-related conditions.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Medical Board in SECTION 2 (Section 156.061, Occupations Code) of this bill.
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Nursing in SECTION 3 (Section 301.309, Occupations Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 245.002(4-a), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "ectopic pregnancy."
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, by adding Section 156.061, as follows:
Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) Defines "abortion," "ectopic pregnancy," and "medical emergency."
(b) Requires a physician licensed under Subtitle B (Physicians) who submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and whose practice includes treating pregnant women to complete, in accordance with this section, at least one hour of continuing medical education (CME) approved by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) on the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, and situations involving a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.
(c) Requires that CME required under Subsection (b) include instruction on standards of care for managing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b); identification of and timely response to a medical emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that requires intervention; how abortion is defined under Section 245.002 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn life; how medical emergency is defined under Section 171.002 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and communication strategies for effectively discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b) with patients and their families.
(d) Requires a physician to complete one hour of CME required by Subsection (b) in each of the first two renewal periods following the issuance of the physician's initial registration permit under Chapter 156 (Registration of Physicians), with one hour to be completed not later than the first anniversary of the date of issuance.
(e) Requires a physician, after the period described by Subsection (d), to complete not less than one hour of CME as described by Subsection (b) every eight years.
(f) Authorizes the hours required by this section to be counted towards the hours of CME required by Section 156.051(a)(2) (relating to requiring TMB to adopt and administer rules that require at least one-half of the hours of CME to be board approved).
(g) Requires TMB to adopt rules to implement this section, including rules to establish the content of and approval requirements for CME required under this section.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, by adding Section 301.309, as follows:
Sec. 301.309. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) Defines "abortion," "ectopic pregnancy," and "medical emergency."
(b) Provides that, as a part of a continuing competency program under Section 301.303 (Continuing Competency), a license holder whose practice includes treating pregnant women and who is required under the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) rules to comply with this section is required to complete at least one hour of continuing education during each two-year licensing period relating to the treatment of pregnancy-related medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, and situations involving a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.
(c) Requires that the continuing education under Subsection (b) include instruction on standards of care for managing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b); identification of and timely response to a medical emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that requires intervention; how abortion is defined under Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn life; how medical emergency is defined under Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and communication strategies for effectively discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b) with patients and their families.
(d) Provides that the continuing education required under Subsection (b) must be part of a program approved under Section 301.303(c) (relating to requiring BON by rule to establish a system for the approval of programs and providers of continuing education).
(e) Requires BON to adopt rules to identify the license holders who are required to complete continuing education under Subsection (b) and to establish the content of that continuing education. Authorizes BON to adopt other rules to implement this section, including rules under Section 301.303(c) for the approval of education programs and providers.
SECTION 4. (a) Requires TMB, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 156.061, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Requires BON, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. (a) Makes application of Section 156.031, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2026.
(b) Makes application of Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2026.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.