Legislative Update | Bill Progress in the 88th Session

“The dignity of labor depends not on what you do, but how you do it.” - Edwin Osgood Grover

On February 28, more than 600 nurses walked into the Texas Capitol advocating for change and support with their state representatives and senators. When nurses come together like we did that day, lawmakers listen! The fruits of our labor that day, created a great deal of momentum with our legislative priorities.

Bill Progress

Workplace Violence. On Monday, March 6, the Workplace Violence Prevention Bill (HB 112) was heard in the House Public Health Committee. Several TNA members, representatives from the Memorial Herman Healthcare System and Parkland Hospital as well as the Texas Hospital Association provided testimony in support of the bill. On Monday, it was unanimously voted out of committee. Next, it will go to the Calendars Committee to be scheduled for second reading on the House floor. In addition, we received news that the Senate version (SB 240) will be heard in the Health and Human Services Committee this week on Wednesday, March 15. The stories you all shared raised awareness around workplace violence with our lawmakers.

Nursing Shortage. On March 10, the lieutenant governor unveiled SB 25, which incorporates language from our priority bill, SB 244, and adds additional scholarship opportunities for nursing students. The bill will provide scholarship opportunities, streamline the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program (NFLRP), and extend the Nursing Innovation Program (NIGP) another four years.

 At the time of this writing, SB 25 has 26 senate authors out of 31 senators. Can you say, “consensus?” This bill has been referred to the Health and Human Services Committee for a hearing, which is chaired by the bill author Senator Kolkhorst. It is always beneficial to have the Chair lay out the bill in her own committee. We will notify you as we learn more about the progression of SB 25 and the House version, HB 901.

Most Influential

Nurses have been the most trusted profession for the last two decades. Unfortunately, our level of influence has not matched that level of trust - until now. While we still have a lot of work ahead, we broke down barriers on February 28 in the Texas Capitol. When nurses come together with an aligned voice, people listen. We must maintain this momentum and continue forging ahead to share our collective voices.

What You Can Do Now

Your work did not end at Nurse Day at the Capitol. We need you to continue nurturing and cultivating your relationships with your state senators and representatives. Call their offices to follow up on your meetings with them. Continue expressing how important it is that they pass our legislative priorities, not only for the sake of the nursing profession but for the sake of patient safety and the health of Texans. The future of our profession and the health of Texans is heavily dependent on the currently proposed legislative agenda.

To find out who your state senator and representative are, click here.