At noon on January 14, 2025, the Texas Legislature will convene and the 89^th Regular Session will begin. On that day, the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate will both be “open for business.” 

While the session doesn’t officially start until January, pre-filing of bills begins on November 11, 2024.

During the 88^th Regular Session, 8,046 House Bills and Senate Bills were filed, 1,246 bills passed, and 77 vetoed. This was an increase in both bill filings and bills passed from the previous session that was somewhat impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the session, TDLR will track bills filed that, if enacted, would impact TDLR’s programs, and will highlight those bills in future editions of the TDLR Health Monitor. Also, be sure to check TDLR’s website in the coming months for our dedicated page on the 89^th Legislative Session.

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted amendments to the following programs’ rules at their meeting on May 21, 2024.

Amendments were adopted regarding two Department programs’ rules. The adopted rules implement House Bill (HB) 3743, Section 4, 88^th Legislature, Regular Session (2023), which exempts the Commission and the Department’s advisory boards from Texas Government Code, Chapter 2110, State Agency Advisory Committees. The adopted rules remove conflicting language and align the programs’ rules with the changes made by HB 3743, Section 4. The adopted changes affect the following Department program rules under Title 16, Part 4, of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

• Behavior Analysts – existing rule at section 121.65
• Dyslexia Therapy – existing rule at section 120.65

These amendments went into effect on July 1, 2024. You can find information about the new rules on each program’s webpage.

Amendments were adopted to existing rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 114, §§114.1, 114.70, and 114.90, regarding the Orthotists and Prosthetists program. The adopted amendments implement Senate Bill (SB) 490, 88^th Legislature, Regular Session, which requires certain health care providers to provide itemized bills. The adopted amendments also make non-substantive changes for purposes of clarity and consistency with the format of other rule chapters administered by the Department.

These amendments went into effect on August 15, 2024. You can review the adoption justification here.

The Commission also adopted amendments to the following programs’ rules at their meeting on July 23, 2024.

Amendments were adopted to existing rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 110, §§110.12, 110.21, and 110.70, regarding the Athletic Trainers program. The adopted rules implement House Bill (HB) 2495 and HB 2512, 88^th Legislature, Regular Session (2023), by updating definitions, license requirements, and standards of conduct.

These amendments went into effect on September 1, 2024. You can review the adoption justification here.

October is National Audiology Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about changes that can improve your quality of life for a better tomorrow. Established by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) in 2008, National Audiology Awareness Month aims to raise public awareness about noise-induced hearing loss and ways to prevent it. Audiologists can identify issues and recommend treatment solutions for you or your loved ones.

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. A time when communities across the country work to highlight the needs, challenges, and signs of dyslexia. Dyslexia is not a disorder of any kind; but is a learning difference that affects writing, reading, and spelling. The intelligence of individuals with dyslexia remains unaffected. This misunderstanding of the condition leads to stigmas, which Dyslexia Awareness Month aims to eliminate.

October includes National Massage Therapy Awareness Week.  American Massage Therapy Association’s (AMTA) Annual National Massage Therapy Awareness Week® (NMTAW) will take place October 20-26, 2024. This is a dedicated week for massage therapists across the U.S. to promote the health benefits of massage therapy and their practices. For ways to help celebrate Massage Therapy Awareness Week, visit AMTA’s website.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature (HAF). The HAF is a software-only mobile medical application that is intended to be used with compatible versions of the AirPods Pro. The HAF utilizes a self-fitting strategy, and users may adjust it to meet their hearing needs without the assistance of a hearing professional. The HAF is set up using an iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad), and the user’s hearing levels are accessed from the iOS HealthKit to customize the HAF. Users can refine the volume, tone and balance settings after setting up the HAF.

The software can turn compatible AirPods Pro into hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

This approval is a significant step towards making hearing aids more accessible and affordable. Hearing loss affects millions of Americans and can negatively impact communication, relationships, and overall well-being. Hearing aids have been linked to reductions in cognitive decline, depression, and other health problems.

To read the full press announcement, please visit the FDA.gov.

To improve processing times for Laser Hair Removal (LHR) Facility Certificate of Registration, effective October 18, 2024, the contract between the LHR facility and the consulting physician will no longer need to be submitted with the application.

The updated application process for LHR Facility Certificate of Registration will include a facility owner’s attestation that the written contract between the LHR facility owner/operator and the consulting physician will be on-site and available to the department upon request.

The Consulting Physicians Contract requirements have not changed and must be in compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 401 and Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 118. You may refer to the Sample Contract between Laser Hair Removal Facility and Consulting Physician (PDF), located on the Laser Hair Removal webpage.

TDLR Enforcement Prosecutors Need Your Help As A Subject Matter Expert

TDLR is seeking subject matter experts (SMEs) in the following areas:

• Athletic Trainers
• Behavior Analysts
• Dietitians
• Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers
• Midwives
• Orthotists and Prosthetists

Subject matter experts (SMEs) review complaint cases, generally involving standard of care issues, to assist our Enforcement Division during the investigation process.

If you are interested in becoming a SME, please complete the Expert Witness Application. Once the application is submitted, you will receive a questionnaire to complete and return. Documents are screened and contracts are issued to approved SMEs.

All SMEs receive training on their role in reviewing complaint cases. Tasks may include the following:

• reviewing documents and statements collected by investigators;
• writing a report stating an opinion as to whether the respondent violated a law or rule in the provision of care to a client;
• answering specific questions from the prosecutor about the case; and/or
• testifying as a witness for TDLR at hearings.

Our mission is to protect the citizens of Texas and the hard-working members of your profession. We cannot do that without your specialized knowledge of the complexities of your profession. Please consider becoming a SME today.

Football season brings excitement and thrills to fans everywhere. It’s also one of the busiest times of the year for many of Texas’ licensed athletic trainers.

From small West Texas high school playing 1A/six-man football to college teams like the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies to NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, athletic trainers serve a crucial role on every team. Their hard work and commitment are evident on the sidelines, whether they’re stabilizing a wide receiver’s ankle or evaluating a defensive lineman for possible concussion symptoms.

An athletic trainer’s efforts can often be the difference between a player having to give up the sport or continue playing and pursuing their dream.

As the first state to license and regulate athletic trainers, Texas has been at the forefront of regulation across the country. TDLR is proud to continue this legacy of athletic trainer regulation in the state of Texas.

Visit the Athletic Trainers Program page to learn more about athletic trainer licensing.

Verify Your License Online. (Yes, You Really Can.)

Do you need a verification of your license? You can do that online!

The link can be found on the top of the TDLR home page, on each profession’s program webpage, or you can go directly to the license verification page.

You can search for a license by name, profession, or license number. It’s quick, easy, and always available!

In the coming months, TDLR Medical and Health Professions staff will be available at several conferences and meetings across Texas to provide licensing and program information to attendees.

• Texas Environmental Health Association-South Texas Chapter 21^st Annual Educational Conference – December 4-6, 2024, South Padre Island.

TDLR is available to provide informational presentations and/or staff booths at your next conference or meeting. If you would like a TDLR representative at your next conference or meeting, contact us at Compliance.Health.Professions@tdlr.texas.gov.

Commission meetings are in person. Unless otherwise noted, all advisory board meetings are held via videoconference.

You can view the live broadcasts or archived meetings on TDLR's YouTube channel. Meeting notices, agendas, and staff reports are posted on the TDLR Meetings page.

• The Code Enforcement Officers Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
• The Registered Sanitarian Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.