Bill > HB4340

This bill, known as the Laura Avila Act, aims to protect Texas residents from potential risks associated with medical tourism by requiring social media platforms to include a prominent warning on paid advertisements for medical procedures or treatments conducted outside the United States. The bill establishes two main components: first, a requirement for social media platforms to display a detailed warning that highlights potential risks such as different safety standards, lack of regulation, and difficulties obtaining follow-up care in the US; second, a mandate for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to create a public web page with comprehensive information about medical tourism risks and an incident reporting database. The web page will provide guidance on challenges associated with medical procedures abroad, including language barriers and potential healthcare disparities, while the reporting database will allow voluntary, de-identified reporting of adverse incidents to help inform the public about medical tourism risks. Social media platforms that fail to display the required warning will be subject to action under deceptive trade practice laws. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the DSHS required to establish the web page and database by December 1, 2025, and submit a report to the legislature about the incident reporting database by December 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4340