Monitoring the Session

HB 163

any entity may stock epinephrine auto-injectors

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the possession and administration of an epinephrine auto-injector by certain entities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The old list of qualifying entities is repealed.

This bill lets any entity in Texas, including a government entity, adopt a policy for keeping, using and disposing of epinephrine auto-injectors. It does this by repealing the old list of which entities qualified and adds an exception for entities that another law already requires to have such a policy. Starting September 1, 2025, businesses, groups and government offices beyond the old list can choose to stock and use these devices under the existing statute.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.QUICK READ: 143 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 143 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB163 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117 Rep. Lauren Ashley SimmonsDHouse 146 Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

ITEM

relating to the possession and administration of an epinephrine auto-injector by certain entities.

WHAT IT DOES

The old list of qualifying entities is repealed.

This bill lets any entity in Texas, including a government entity, adopt a policy for keeping, using and disposing of epinephrine auto-injectors. It does this by repealing the old list of which entities qualified and adds an exception for entities that another law already requires to have such a policy. Starting September 1, 2025, businesses, groups and government offices beyond the old list can choose to stock and use these devices under the existing statute.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Public Health
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  14. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  15. Transferred to Calendars Committee
  16. Committee report sent to Calendars
  17. Considered in Calendars
  18. Placed on General State Calendar
  19. Read 2nd time
  20. Passed to engrossment
  21. Record vote RV#869
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#1014
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Health & Human Services
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Left pending in committee
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Vote taken in committee
  35. Co-sponsor authorized
  36. Reported favorably as substituted
  37. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  38. Committee report printed and distributed
  39. Co-sponsor authorized
  40. Placed on intent calendar
  41. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  42. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  43. Vote recorded in Journal
  44. Three day rule suspended
  45. Record vote
  46. Read 3rd time
  47. Passed
  48. Record vote
  49. Senate passage as amended reported
  50. Senate Amendments distributed
  51. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  52. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  53. Record vote RV#3972
  54. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  55. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  56. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  57. Reported enrolled
  58. Signed in the House
  59. Signed in the Senate
  60. Sent to the Governor
  61. Signed by the Governor
  62. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 138 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Philip Cortez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44KTexas Sands PAC$37KPhysicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35,000.00

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

×

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Votes6

House May 28, 2025

Yea
105
Nay
29
Present, not voting
1
Absent
5
Excused
10
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3972

Representative Cortez moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 163. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 163 prevailed by (Record 3972): 105 Yeas, 29 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 105 (published)
  • Nay: 29 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Blanco moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 163 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Blanco moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 163 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
138
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1014

HB 163 was passed by (Record 1014): 138 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 138 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 869

HB 163 was passed to engrossment by (Record 869): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses6
For
5
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society1 registration
  • Texas Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Society1 registration
  • Texas Chapter American College of Physicians1 registration
  • The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration

On

  • Department of State Health Services1 registration
Sources

6 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
César BlancoDSenate 29
Cosponsors
Molly CookDSenate 15 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Health--Emergency Services & Personnel

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

MEDICINE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Text

The text as introduced · 143 words

89R2249 EAS-D

By: Cortez
H.B. No. 163

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the possession and administration of an epinephrine

auto-injector by certain entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 773.0145, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (c) to

read as follows:

(a-1) This section does not apply to an entity that is

required by another law to adopt and implement a policy governing

the maintenance, administration, and disposal of epinephrine

auto-injectors by the entity.

(c) An entity in this state, including a governmental

entity, [ described by Subsection (a) ] may adopt a policy regarding

the maintenance, administration, and disposal of epinephrine

auto-injectors.

SECTION 2. Sections 773.0145(a) and (b), Health and Safety

Code, are repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.