Bill > HB4355

This bill makes several key changes to nursing regulations in Texas. First, it modifies the conditions under which nurses can practice during a state disaster, ensuring that nurses working under a gubernatorial waiver or emergency declaration remain subject to the Texas Board of Nursing's jurisdiction and disciplinary procedures. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing nurses to request expunction of their disciplinary records under specific conditions, such as successfully completing all disciplinary requirements and not committing additional violations in the past five years. Importantly, records related to violations that directly harmed a patient cannot be expunged. If a record is expunged, the disciplinary order becomes void, and the nurse can legally state that the record does not exist. The bill also adds a provision for a pilot program related to peer assistance and allows the Board of Nursing to establish a reasonable fee for processing record expunctions. The Texas Board of Nursing is required to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, and the bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, applying only to nursing practice from that date forward.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4355