AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a bill that would allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription from a healthcare provider.

State Rep. Joanne Shofner, R-Nacogdoches, authored House Bill 25 that would make the commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services issue a statewide order to authorize a licensed pharmacist to dispense ivermectin without a health care practitioner's prescription.

On Wednesday, the House approved HB 25 with a preliminary vote of 88-51. The House Public Health Committee passed the bill through its membership on Monday.

The bill now needs a final vote from the House members.

According to the text of the bill, the order would include written, standardized procedures for a pharmacist to fo

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