HB 3176

bill banning mRNA products for communicable diseases

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 manufacture, sale, and distribution of products developed using mRNA material in the prevention or treatment of a communicable disease.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No making, selling or handing out products developed using mRNA.

The bill adds a new rule to the Texas food and drug law that bars anyone from making, selling, or handing out a product developed using mRNA material to prevent or treat a communicable disease. It defines mRNA material as a substance that introduces messenger RNA matching a viral protein, so it reaches drug makers, pharmacies, clinics, and distributors dealing in mRNA vaccines and treatments. Starting September 1, 2025, these products could not legally be manufactured, sold, or distributed in Texas.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 128 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 128 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 21, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3176 · 2025-02-21

SOLD BY

Rep. Wes VirdellRHouse 53

Rep. Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

+ 16 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products developed using mRNA material in the prevention or treatment of a communicable disease.

WHAT IT DOES

No making, selling or handing out products developed using mRNA.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Feb 21, 2025Filed
Mar 20, 2025Read first time
Mar 20, 2025Referred to Public Health

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Wes Virdell

Donors

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$25K Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$25K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$23K

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 · Nov 3, 2024 to Oct 21, 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.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$25,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101012375.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$25,000.00

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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 · on Oct 22, 2025. 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: 101031736.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$22,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

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 · Nov 25, 2024 to Jul 13, 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: 100987242, 101012375, 101060151, 101072158.

Money

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

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101012375.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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 · on Oct 22, 2025. 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: 101031736.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

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 · Nov 25, 2024 to Jul 13, 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: 100987242, 101012375, 101060151, 101072158.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

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 Feb 21, 2025

03/20/2025 H Referred to Public Health: Mar 20 2025 11:50AM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Coauthors

Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63

Briscoe CainRHouse 128

Richard HayesRHouse 57

Andy HopperRHouse 64

Carrie IsaacRHouse 73

Helen KerwinRHouse 58

Mitch LittleRHouse 65

Don McLaughlinRHouse 80

Will MetcalfRHouse 16

Brent MoneyRHouse 2

Katrina PiersonRHouse 33

Nate SchatzlineRHouse 93

Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59

Valoree SwansonRHouse 150

Tony TinderholtRHouse 94

Steve TothRHouse 15

House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 1983 by Hall (identical)

Subjects

Health--General

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

IMMUNIZATIONS

MEDICINE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Text

The text as introduced · 128 words

89R13102 AB-D

By: Virdell
H.B. No. 3176

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products

developed using mRNA material in the prevention or treatment of a

communicable disease.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 431.0215 to read as follows:

Sec. 431.0215. ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED ACTS. (a) In this

section, "mRNA material" means a substance that introduces

messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) corresponding to a viral protein.

(b) A person may not manufacture, sell, or distribute a

product developed through the use of mRNA material in the

prevention or treatment of a communicable disease.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.