By: Campbell, et al. S.B. No. 2626
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to ectopic pregnancies and continuing education for
certain physicians and nurses regarding treatment of certain
pregnancy-related conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 245.002(4-a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(4-a) "Ectopic pregnancy" means the implantation of a
fertilized egg or embryo:
(A) outside of the uterus;
(B) in an intrauterine location at which the
fertilized egg or embryo becomes nonviable; or
(C) in a scarred portion of the uterus.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING
TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Abortion" and "ectopic pregnancy" have the
meanings assigned by Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Medical emergency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code.
(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an
application for renewal of a registration permit and whose practice
includes treating pregnant women shall complete, in accordance with
this section, at least one hour of continuing medical education
approved by the board on the treatment of:
(1) pregnancy-related medical emergencies;
(2) ectopic pregnancy; and
(3) situations involving a dead, unborn child whose
death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.
(c) The continuing medical education required under
Subsection (b) must include instruction on:
(1) standards of care for managing a condition or
situation described by Subsection (b);
(2) identification of and timely response to a medical
emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that
requires intervention;
(3) 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;
(4) 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
(5) communication strategies for effectively
discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b)
with patients and their families.
(d) A physician must complete one hour of continuing medical
education required by Subsection (b) in each of the first two
renewal periods following the issuance of the physician's initial
registration permit under this chapter, with one hour to be
completed not later than the first anniversary of the date of
issuance.
(e) After the period described by Subsection (d), a
physician must complete not less than one hour of continuing
medical education as described by Subsection (b) every eight years.
(f) The hours required by this section may be counted toward
the hours of continuing medical education required by Section
156.051(a)(2).
(g) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,
including rules to establish the content of and approval
requirements for continuing medical education required under this
section.
SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.309 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.309. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF
CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Abortion" and "ectopic pregnancy" have the
meanings assigned by Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Medical emergency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code.
(b) As part of a continuing competency program under Section
301.303, a license holder whose practice includes treating pregnant
women and who is required under board rules to comply with this
section shall complete at least one hour of continuing education
during each two-year licensing period relating to the treatment of:
(1) pregnancy-related medical emergencies;
(2) ectopic pregnancy; and
(3) situations involving a dead, unborn child whose
death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.
(c) The continuing education under Subsection (b) must
include instruction on:
(1) standards of care for managing a condition or
situation described by Subsection (b);
(2) identification of and timely response to a medical
emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that
requires intervention;
(3) 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;
(4) 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
(5) communication strategies for effectively
discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b)
with patients and their families.
(d) The continuing education required under Subsection (b)
must be part of a program approved under Section 301.303(c).
(e) The board shall 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. The board may 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) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
Medical Board shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section
156.061, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Board of
Nursing shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 301.309,
Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. (a) Section 156.061, Occupations Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a
registration permit submitted on or after January 1, 2026. An
application submitted before January 1, 2026, is governed by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to an application for the renewal of a license to
practice nursing submitted on or after January 1, 2026. An
application submitted before January 1, 2026, is governed by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.