BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3062

By: Guerra

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 2023, the 88th Legislature passed Tucker's Law which required public schools to raise awareness among K-12 students on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning. Tucker Roe, the bill's namesake, died in 2021 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill thinking it was Percocet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 5,566 drug-related deaths in Texas between August 2022 and August 2023, and 45 percent of them involved fentanyl. The bill author has informed the committee that there are currently no state-required fentanyl poisoning awareness curriculum requirements for public institutions of higher education. H.B. 3062 seeks to address this issue by requiring each institution of higher education to provide to undergraduate students during the students' first semester or term a curriculum that includes information about suicide prevention, prevention of abuse and addiction to fentanyl, awareness of community resources, and substance use and abuse.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3062 amends the Education Code to require each public institution of higher education to provide research-based instruction related to fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness to entering undergraduate students as soon as practicable during the students' first semester or term at the institution. The bill sets out provisions that do the following with respect to the instruction:

· require the instruction to include:

o suicide prevention;

o prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl;

o awareness of local institution and community resources and any processes involved in accessing those resources; and

o health education that includes information about substance use and abuse, including young adult substance use and abuse; and

· authorize the instruction to be provided online and by the following entities or an employee or agent of such an entity:

o a public, private, or independent institution of higher education;

o a library;

o a community service organization;

o a religious organization;

o a local public health agency; or

o an organization employing mental health professionals.

H.B. 3062 applies beginning with undergraduate students who initially enroll in a public institution of higher education for the 2026 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.