TX HB1059

Health care providers and residential care providers may presume an advance directive is valid unless they have actual knowledge to the contrary, and are protected from civil liability, criminal liability, and disciplinary action for following such directives

Medical powers of attorney may now be executed using either the existing Texas statutory form or alternative forms designated by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission

Alternative medical power of attorney forms must be promulgated by a national nonprofit organization or the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, written in plain language, and accepted as valid in at least 40 other states

The executive commissioner must designate at least one alternative medical power of attorney form by rule no later than December 1, 2025, and post links to approved forms on the commission's website

The new form requirements apply only to medical powers of attorney executed on or after September 1, 2025; documents executed before that date remain governed by prior law