Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Texas Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
H.B. No. 879 AN ACT relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 155.012 to read as follows: Sec. 155.012. LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section 55.001. (b) The board shall issue a license to practice medicine to an applicant who: (1) is licensed in good standing as a physician in another state; (2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more than one year before the application date for a license under this section; (3) was, at the time of retiring from or leaving military service: (A) serving on active duty; and (B) authorized as a physician to treat persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans; (4) was honorably discharged from military service; and (5) has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence examination. (c) The board may not issue a license under this section to an applicant who: (1) holds a medical license or a license to prescribe, dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: (A) is currently under active investigation; or (B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or (2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under active investigation for the commission of: (A) a felony; or (B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 204.159 to read as follows: Sec. 204.159. LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section 55.001. (b) The physician assistant board shall issue a license to an applicant who: (1) is licensed in good standing as a physician assistant in another state; (2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more than one year before the application date for a license under this section; (3) was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise leaving military service: (A) serving on active duty; and (B) authorized as a physician assistant to treat persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans; (4) was honorably discharged from military service; and (5) has passed the jurisprudence examination. (c) The physician assistant board may not issue a license under this section to an applicant who: (1) holds a physician assistant license or a license to prescribe, dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: (A) is currently under active investigation; or (B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or (2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under active investigation for the commission of: (A) a felony; or (B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows: Sec. 301.262. LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section 55.001. (b) The board shall issue a license to practice nursing to an applicant who: (1) is licensed in good standing as a nurse in another state; (2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more than one year before the application date for a license under this section; (3) was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise leaving military service: (A) serving on active duty; and (B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans; (4) was honorably discharged from military service; and (5) has passed the jurisprudence examination. (c) The board may not issue a license under this section to an applicant who: (1) holds a nursing license or a license to prescribe, dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: (A) is currently under active investigation; or (B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or (2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under active investigation for the commission of: (A) a felony; or (B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 879 was passed by the House on April 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 879 was passed by the Senate on May 15, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor
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