TNP Legislative Agenda, 2021

With a new Speaker of the House and a challenging 140 days ahead of them, the 87th Legislature was gaveled into session last Tuesday, and at the top of the list of most important issues they will address is health care. The COVID-19 crisis has illuminated and exacerbated existing gaps in our health care system and finding ways to close them will be a primary goal for lawmakers.

Not a Member? Make sure you join TNP so you can stay in the know about laws impacting NPs, as most updates and website pages will be accessible to Members only.

Below is TNP's Legislative Agenda for 2021. Throughout session and once these bills are filed, we will send exclusive updates to Members regarding progress on these and related bills as they move through the legislative process.

• Retiring APRN Delegation Requirements, Expanding Access for Patients: TNP will work on legislation to allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to practice to the full extent of their training and education, remove costly and burdensome physician delegation requirements, and place NPs under the exclusive regulatory authority of the Texas Board of Nursing.

• APRN Scheduled II Prescriptive Authority: TNP will work on legislation to ensure adequate prescriptive authority for NPs and extend delegated Schedule II prescriptive authority to all NPs, regardless of practice setting or specialty.

• APRN DNR/Death Certificate Signature Authority: TNP will work on legislation recognizing the signature of NPs for death certificates, as well as in-hospital/out-of-hospital Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs).

• Nursing Education/Graduate Nursing Education: TNP will support legislation to maintain current funding for nursing and graduate nursing education funding in Texas, including the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program and the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program.