SB 623
bill letting pharmacists alone decide whether to give vaccines
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 the authority of a pharmacist to determine whether to administer a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Including COVID-19 shots. Same rule as dispensing drugs.
The bill says a pharmacist alone decides whether to give a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine, just as current law already lets a pharmacist alone decide whether to dispense a drug. It touches pharmacists, the pharmacies that employ them, and customers who come in for a shot. A pharmacist could decline to give a vaccine, and the bill says this applies notwithstanding any other law.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 141 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 141 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).PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the Senate Health & Human Services committee on Apr 15, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB623 · 2024-12-16
SOLD BY
+ 2 coauthors
ITEM
relating to the authority of a pharmacist to determine whether to administer a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine.
WHAT IT DOES
Including COVID-19 shots. Same rule as dispensing drugs.
The bill says a pharmacist alone decides whether to give a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine, just as current law already lets a pharmacist alone decide whether to dispense a drug. It touches pharmacists, the pharmacies that employ them, and customers who come in for a shot. A pharmacist could decline to give a vaccine, and the bill says this applies notwithstanding any other law.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Health & Human Services
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken in committee
- Left pending in committee
- Co-author authorized
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Texans for Charles Schwertner.
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 1, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 Senate · Filed Dec 16, 2024
04/15/2025 S Left pending in committee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations
COVID-19 (SB9YM)
IMMUNIZATIONS
PHARMACIES & PHARMACISTS
Text
The text as introduced · 141 words
89R4827 BEE-D By: Schwertner S.B. No. 623 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a pharmacist to determine whether to administer a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.006, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 551.006. EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding any other law, a pharmacist has the exclusive authority to determine whether or not to : (1) dispense a drug ; or (2) administer a vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine . SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.