Relating to abnormal skin growth education for certain occupational license holders and to the liability of those license holders and their employers for certain medical referrals.
Summary
HB 2676 requires certain occupational license holders regulated under Chapters 201, 455, and 1603 of the Occupations Code to complete board-approved coursework in abnormal skin growth education, including training on identifying melanoma, before an initial license is issued or a license is renewed. The bill directs the relevant boards and commission to approve coursework providers, require certificates of completion, and adopt rules to implement the new training requirements.
The bill also authorizes license holders who complete the coursework to refer individuals to a medical professional for evaluation of an abnormal skin growth. It further provides that a covered license holder, and in some cases the employer, are not civilly or criminally liable for acting in good faith or for failing to act on information learned in the course of practice about potential abnormal skin growths. The bill states that it does not create a new cause of action or authorize license holders to practice medicine outside their scope of practice.
Impact
HB 2676 would amend the Occupations Code by adding new education, licensing, and liability provisions for covered occupational groups, including chiropractic-related licensees, cosmetology-related licensees, and certain individual practitioners under Chapter 1603. It would condition initial and renewal licensing on completion of approved abnormal skin growth coursework, with a one-time completion requirement that carries forward for later renewals. The bill also requires the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, and applies the new licensing requirements to applications and renewals on or after June 1, 2026.
Sentiment
The available context shows little recorded debate or formal vote activity, and the bill was referred to the House Public Health Committee on March 18, 2025. The overall direction of the bill suggests a public-health-oriented approach focused on early detection of melanoma and other abnormal skin growths, with a protective liability component intended to encourage referrals. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, there is no documented opposition or support in the available materials beyond the bill’s stated purpose.
Contention
The main policy tension in HB 2676 is between encouraging non-medical license holders to recognize and refer suspicious skin growths and avoiding any implication that they are practicing medicine. The bill addresses this by limiting referrals to those who complete the training and by expressly stating that it does not expand scope of practice or create new liability. Another possible point of concern is the breadth of the liability shield for both license holders and employers, which could draw scrutiny from those worried about reduced accountability, although no specific opposing arguments are included in the provided record.
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