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Bill

Bill

HB 5248

Relating to a pilot program for the safe disposal of prescription drugs, including controlled substance prescription drugs.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ryan Guillen

Texas pilot program establishes safe disposal channels for prescription and controlled substance drugs to prevent environmental contamination and misuse.

Placed on General State Calendar
#alcoholism&drugabuse(i0030) #environmentalquality #texascommissionon(v0334) #health&humanservicescommission(v0177) #health--general(i0385) #medicine&prescriptiondrugs(s7338) #pharmacies&pharmacists(s1192) #statehealthservices #departmentof(v0463)
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Bill Summary · HB 5248

Legislative bill overview

HB 5248 establishes a pilot program in Texas to create safe and regulated disposal channels for prescription drugs, including controlled substances. The bill aims to provide citizens with accessible methods to dispose of unused or expired medications without environmental or public health risks.

Why is this important

Improper medication disposal—flushing drugs or throwing them in trash—contaminates water supplies, harms ecosystems, and contributes to accidental poisonings. For controlled substances specifically, unsafe disposal creates security risks and can enable substance abuse. A structured disposal program protects public health, environmental integrity, and reduces prescription drug misuse pathways.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Who funds the pilot program (state, pharmacies, or local authorities) and what the fiscal impact will be
  • Controlled substance handling: Regulations around chain-of-custody documentation and law enforcement involvement may create compliance burdens for participating pharmacies
  • Geographic limitations: Pilot programs inherently serve limited areas, raising equity concerns about unequal access to disposal services across Texas regions
  • Privacy concerns: Documentation requirements for disposing controlled substances could deter participation if patients fear data collection or legal scrutiny

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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