Abilene Times

Sen. Peter P. Flores introduced SB 254, a bill on Occupational Regulation, to the Texas Senate on Monday, Feb. 3 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.

More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’Relating to the administration of a medication and the ordering and administration of an immunization or vaccination by a pharmacist’’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

This bill amends the Texas Occupations Code to modify the practice of pharmacy by allowing pharmacists to administer medications and order or administer immunizations or vaccinations. Pharmacists may administer these to patients at least three years old, or to those younger if referred by a physician. The bill requires pharmacists to inform licensed healthcare providers within 14 days after administering an immunization or vaccination. Pharmacists must meet board-specified skill, education, and certification standards, including training by the CDC, basic life support, and hands-on methods. The bill also allows certified pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations or vaccinations under a pharmacist's delegation. The bill takes effect immediately with a two-thirds house vote or on Sept. 1, 2025, if not.

Peter P. Flores, chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Border Security, proposed another 13 bills during the 89(R) legislative session.

Flores graduated from Texas A&M University in 1983 with a BS.

Peter P. Flores is currently serving in the Texas State Senate, representing the state's 24th Senate district. He replaced previous state senator Dawn Buckingham in 2023.

Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB 625	02/03/2025	Relating to courses in personal financial literacy and economics for high school students in public schools
SB 553	02/03/2025	Relating to the design-build method for certain government construction projects
SB 385	02/03/2025	Relating to construction standards for certain recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds
SB 253	02/03/2025	Relating to county subdivision platting requirements
SB 252	02/03/2025	Relating to protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school
SB 250	02/03/2025	Relating to municipal annexation of an area adjacent to contiguous or connecting railroad rights-of-way
SB 248	02/03/2025	Relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's salary
SB 247	02/03/2025	Relating to the applicability of the law governing the provision of state aid to certain local governments disproportionately affected by the granting of ad valorem tax relief to disabled veterans
SB 246	02/03/2025	Relating to the delivery and direct shipment of certain alcoholic beverages to ultimate consumers; creating criminal offenses
SB 245	02/03/2025	Relating to the delivery of alcoholic beverages by holders of a consumer delivery permit
SB 244	02/03/2025	Relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes
SB 243	02/03/2025	Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; changing the amount of a civil penalty
SB 242	02/03/2025	Relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that may be obscene or is otherwise harmful to children