Texas School Nurses Hesitating to Provide Basic First Aid Amid New “Parental Bill of Rights”

A new Texas law, known informally as the “Parental Bill of Rights” (Senate Bill 12), mandates that schools obtain written parental consent before administering any non-emergency health-related services, including basic first aid like Band-Aids or ice packs.

This requirement has left many school nurses confused and anxious. In some districts, nurses report being told not to provide even the simplest care—such as applying a bandage—unless explicit permission is on file. That means students with minor cuts must wait for a parent to arrive before receiving treatment.

“With all due respect, if you can’t distinguish offering a Band-Aid or an ice pack from offering more serious medical and/or mental health services that should require parental involvement and consent, then maybe we need to be a lot more concerned than we already were.” – Jeff Leach

State lawmakers, including SB 12 authors Rep. Jeff Leach and Sen. Brandon Creighton, have expressed concern over this overcautious interpretation. In a letter, they urged the Texas Education Agency to provide clearer guidance and emphasized the need for “common sense” in handling minor medical needs. They argued that “children’s safety cannot be held hostage to paperwork delays”.

The Texas Education Agency is currently revising its guidance and plans to issue updated information to school districts soon, aiming to clarify how schools can balance legal requirements with day-to-day health care of students.