HB 4358
Shofner Bill Requires A Doctor’s Prescription For Birth Control Pills
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 an over the counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
No over the counter pill without a physician’s prescription. Penalty for breaking the rule: none!
The bill bars anyone from selling or handing out birth control pills over the counter unless the buyer has a valid prescription written by a licensed physician. It touches pharmacies, stores, clinics and anyone else who provides oral contraceptives, along with the people who want to buy them. Starting September 1, 2025, oral contraceptives could not be sold or provided without a physician's prescription, although the bill sets no penalty for breaking the rule.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 113 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 113 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 Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4358 · 2025-03-11
SOLD BY
+ 3 coauthors
ITEM
relating to an over the counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.
WHAT IT DOES
No over the counter pill without a physician’s prescription. Penalty for breaking the rule: none!
The bill bars anyone from selling or handing out birth control pills over the counter unless the buyer has a valid prescription written by a licensed physician. It touches pharmacies, stores, clinics and anyone else who provides oral contraceptives, along with the people who want to buy them. Starting September 1, 2025, oral contraceptives could not be sold or provided without a physician's prescription, although the bill sets no penalty for breaking the rule.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Health
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“A person may not sell or otherwise provide over the counter to an individual an oral contraceptive unless the individual has a valid prescription for the oral contraceptive”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill bans over-the-counter sale of birth control pills and keeps them inside the physician-prescription channel.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Jul 3, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
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 Mar 11, 2025
04/01/2025 H Referred to Public Health: Apr 1 2025 12:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions
Women
FAMILY PLANNING & BIRTH CONTROL
PRESCRIPTIONS
Text
The text as introduced · 113 words
89R15764 MPF-D By: Shofner H.B. No. 4358 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an over the counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 446 to read as follows: CHAPTER 446. ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES Sec. 446.001. PROHIBITED SALE OR PROVISION OF CERTAIN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES. A person may not sell or otherwise provide over the counter to an individual an oral contraceptive unless the individual has a valid prescription for the oral contraceptive prescribed by a licensed physician. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.