Texas has enacted legislation (House Bill 2187), which adds certain protections related to nurse staffing in hospitals. House Bill 2187 takes effect Sept. 1, 2025.
The Details
As background, a general, special, or mental hospital cannot suspend, terminate, or otherwise discipline or discriminate against a nurse who refuses to work mandatory overtime.
House Bill 2187
Under the law, in order to address Texas hospitals’ nurse staffing problems, the Texas Department of State Health Services must provide the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with a hospital’s annual nurse staffing report. Additionally, each hospital’s chief nursing officer must attest to the accuracy of the information in the report.
Nonretaliation
Covered hospitals are prohibited from retaliating against a nurse who provides information to a nurse staffing committee or reports violations of the law to hospital management or the HHSC.
Next Steps
Covered hospitals should review and update their workplace policies and procedures and train supervisors to help ensure compliance with House Bill 2187 by Sept. 1, 2025.