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SB1534

Regular Session

Relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
SB1534
Low
Relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
THECBTWC
Primary Author: Sen. Judith Zaffirini
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: N/A (This is an agency directive, not a business mandate; however, industry data submission should be prepared by Q1 2026).
  • Agency Rulemaking: No formal rulemaking is required. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will establish internal methodologies for data collection between September 2025 and December 2026.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Workforce Data: Immediately task HR with generating a report on health physics recruiting difficulties over the last 24 months.
  • Engage University Partners: Contact university liaisons to coordinate messaging; ensure they are prepared to advocate for program expansion.
  • Monitor Agency Notices: Watch for Requests for Information (RFI) from the THECB or TWC in late 2025; failure to respond will result in under-representation of your labor needs.
  • Prepare Government Affairs: Brief your external affairs team to engage with the TWC to ensure "projected growth" (not just current vacancies) is included in the study methodology.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

No immediate amendments are required for employment or vendor contracts. However, organizations with existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with universities regarding internships or pipeline programs should review these agreements to ensure they align with the workforce needs you intend to report to the state.

Hiring/Training

No immediate changes to hiring protocols or certification requirements.

  • Strategic Action: Direct HR to begin segregating data specifically for "Health Physics" and "Radiation Safety Officer" roles to prepare for state inquiries.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

There are no statutory filing requirements.

  • Voluntary Documentation: To influence the legislative outcome, you must document:
  • 1. Current vacancy rates for health physicists.
  • 2. Average "time-to-fill" for these specific technical roles.
  • 3. Projected retirements in your radiological safety departments over the next 5–10 years.

Fees & Costs

There are no new fees, taxes, or penalties associated with this legislation.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The legislation directs the agencies to "assess workforce needs" but fails to define the metric for that assessment.

  • The Risk: If the TWC relies solely on existing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) codes, which often aggregate niche technical roles, they may conclude there is no labor shortage.
  • The Opportunity: The bill leaves the *method* of data collection open. Industry must lobby for a direct survey model rather than a reliance on passive administrative data to ensure the "gap" is accurately quantified.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 21, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 24, 2025
Passed House
May 27, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsEducationEducation--higherEducation--higher--institutions & ProgramsEnergyEnergy--nuclearInterim StudiesLaborLabor--workforce DevelopmentHigher Education Coordinating Board, TexasWorkforce Commission, Texas
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Author
Joint Authors

House Sponsors

Rep. Stan LambertRepublican · Primary Sponsor
Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Judith Zaffirini

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1534

Q

What does Texas SB1534 do?

SB1534 mandates a state-level gap analysis of the health physics workforce, directly impacting future labor pipelines for the nuclear energy, medical physics, and industrial radiography sectors. While the bill imposes no immediate regulatory burdens, the resulting report will dictate future state funding and educational authorization for the specialized talent your operations rely upon. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: N/A (This is an agency directive, not a business mandate; however, industry data submission should be prepared by Q1 2026).

Q

Who authored SB1534?

SB1534 was authored by Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1534 signed into law?

SB1534 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1534?

SB1534 is enforced by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB1534?

The compliance urgency for SB1534 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1534?

The cost impact of SB1534 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1534 address?

SB1534 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--institutions & programs, energy and energy--nuclear.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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