By: Campbell, Paxton  S.B. No. 2626          (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2025; April 3, 2025, read   first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;   April 14, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,   Nays 0; April 14, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to ectopic pregnancies and continuing education for   certain physicians and nurses regarding treatment of certain   pregnancy-related conditions.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 245.002(4-a), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (4-a) "Ectopic pregnancy" means the implantation of a   fertilized egg or embryo:                      (A)  outside of the uterus;                      (B)  in an intrauterine location at which the   fertilized egg or embryo becomes nonviable; or                      (C)  in a scarred portion of the uterus.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows:          Sec. 156.061.  CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING   TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS. (a) In this   section:                (1)  "Abortion" and "ectopic pregnancy" have the   meanings assigned by Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code.                (2)  "Medical emergency" has the meaning assigned by   Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code.          (b)  A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an   application for renewal of a registration permit and whose practice   includes treating pregnant women shall complete, in accordance with   this section, at least one hour of continuing medical education   approved by the board on the treatment of:                (1)  pregnancy-related medical emergencies;                (2)  ectopic pregnancy; and                 (3)  situations involving a dead, unborn child whose   death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.          (c)  The continuing medical education required under   Subsection (b) must include instruction on:                (1)  standards of care for managing a condition or   situation described by Subsection (b);                (2)  identification of and timely response to a medical   emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that   requires intervention;                (3)  how abortion is defined under Section 245.002,   Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and   interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn   life;                (4)  how medical emergency is defined under Section   171.002, Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are   permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and                (5)  communication strategies for effectively   discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b)   with patients and their families.          (d)  A physician must complete one hour of continuing medical   education required by Subsection (b) in each of the first two   renewal periods following the issuance of the physician's initial   registration permit under this chapter, with one hour to be   completed not later than the first anniversary of the date of   issuance.          (e)  After the period described by Subsection (d), a   physician must complete not less than one hour of continuing   medical education as described by Subsection (b) every eight years.          (f)  The hours required by this section may be counted toward   the hours of continuing medical education required by Section   156.051(a)(2).          (g)  The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,   including rules to establish the content of and approval   requirements for continuing medical education required under this   section.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 301.309 to read as follows:          Sec. 301.309.  CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF   CERTAIN PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Abortion" and "ectopic pregnancy" have the   meanings assigned by Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code.                (2)  "Medical emergency" has the meaning assigned by   Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code.          (b)  As part of a continuing competency program under Section   301.303, a license holder whose practice includes treating pregnant   women and who is required under board rules to comply with this   section shall complete at least one hour of continuing education   during each two-year licensing period relating to the treatment of:                (1)  pregnancy-related medical emergencies;                (2)  ectopic pregnancy; and                (3)  situations involving a dead, unborn child whose   death was caused by a spontaneous abortion.          (c)  The continuing education under Subsection (b) must   include instruction on:                (1)  standards of care for managing a condition or   situation described by Subsection (b);                (2)  identification of and timely response to a medical   emergency caused or aggravated by a woman's pregnancy and that   requires intervention;                (3)  how abortion is defined under Section 245.002,   Health and Safety Code, including the medical situations and   interventions excluded from abortion regulations protecting unborn   life;                (4)  how medical emergency is defined under Section   171.002, Health and Safety Code, and what interventions are   permitted in a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman; and                (5)  communication strategies for effectively   discussing a condition or situation described by Subsection (b)   with patients and their families.          (d)  The continuing education required under Subsection (b)   must be part of a program approved under Section 301.303(c).          (e)  The board shall adopt rules to identify the license   holders who are required to complete continuing education under   Subsection (b) and to establish the content of that continuing   education.  The board may adopt other rules to implement this   section, including rules under Section 301.303(c) for the approval   of education programs and providers.          SECTION 4.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas   Medical Board shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section   156.061, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Board of   Nursing shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 301.309,   Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 5.  (a) Section 156.061, Occupations Code, as added   by this Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a   registration permit submitted on or after January 1, 2026.  An   application submitted before January 1, 2026, is governed by the   law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          (b)  Section 301.309, Occupations Code, as added by this Act,   applies only to an application for the renewal of a license to   practice nursing submitted on or after January 1, 2026.  An   application submitted before January 1, 2026, is governed by the   law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *