A couple weeks ago, the Texas legislature gaveled out for sine die, marking the end of the 88th Legislative Session. In TNP’s report, we provide an end-of-session recap of the bills on TNP’s legislative agenda and broader health care legislation which will impact nurses, providers, and patients.
While our full practice bill (HEAL Texans Act) did not advance, the awareness of APRN issues was perhaps more prominent than ever due to attention on the nursing shortage, the relentless advocacy of our full practice authority bill sponsor, Senator Blanco, and the strength of our public relations campaign for the HEAL Texans Act. Over the course of session, we launched several advocacy videos highlighting patient access to care stories, a statewide poll showing overwhelming support for full practice among Texas voters, and a grant-funded research study demonstrating the financial and public health benefits of lifting restrictions on APRNs. We will continue to build on the strength of this campaign.
