(Texas Scorecard) – Twenty Texas House Republicans have asked Gov. Greg Abbott to add the reclassification of ivermectin as an over-the-counter medication to the upcoming special session call.
State Rep. Joanne Shofner (R–Nacogdoches) wrote a letter to the governor requesting that this medical liberty measure be included on the July special session agenda. Nineteen other Republican representatives co-signed the letter.
“Enhancing access to safe, affordable treatments like Ivermectin reflects the principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government—values that continue to define strong conservative leadership in our state,” wrote Shofner.
“Currently, a petition is circulating to support adding this item to the call, and has over 5,000 signatures from Texans covering every corner of the state,” she added.
During the regular session, Shofner authored House Bill 3219, which would have authorized the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to allow ivermectin to be sold without a prescription. Additionally, the measure would have required pharmacists to submit an annual report with details concerning the number of doses of ivermectin sold.
The proposal was passed by the House Public Health Committee in late April, where it received over 600 public comments of support before being heard, but it never received a vote on the House floor.
Idaho, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana are currently the only states to have passed legislation allowing ivermectin to be sold over-the-counter.
Texans for Vaccine Choice has started a petition urging the governor to include the issue on the special session agenda.
The special session will begin on July 21. Abbott can add items to the agenda at any time before or during the session, which may last up to 30 days.