Sepsis is one of the leading causes of preventable death in hospitals. Yet Texas hospitals face no meaningful consequences when life-saving sepsis protocols are not followed. Each year, sepsis affects more than 1.7 million Americans and kills over 350,000 people, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Early recognition and rapid treatment with antibiotics can save lives, but delays in diagnosis or treatment can quickly turn deadly. In 2023, two young Texans—Nicholas Mata, age 11, and Darren “DJ” Stanley Jr, age 22—were treated at separate hospitals within the same health system and discharged despite showing signs of serious infection. Nicholas survived but suffered severe, permanent injuries. Darren did not survive. Their stories highlight a critical gap in hospital accountability. While the federal CMS SEP-1 sepsis measure requires hospitals to report whether sepsis care was documented, it does not impose meaningful consequences when hospitals fail to follow those standards. The Nicholas and Darren Sepsis Safety Act would establish statewide standards to ensure hospitals act quickly when sepsis is suspected. Five things to know about the bill: The Nicholas and Darren Sepsis Safety Act would require every Texas hospital to implement standardized protocols to identify and treat sepsis quickly, including early screening, rapid antibiotics, and escalation procedures. While the federal SEP-1 rule requires hospitals to report sepsis care documentation, it does not create meaningful consequences when hospitals fail to follow those standards. This bill closes that gap by requiring hospitals to submit sepsis outcome data to the state and by creating enforceable penalties, corrective action plans, and potential licensing consequences for repeated non-compliance. The legislation also requires annual sepsis training for clinical staff and establishes a statewide oversight committee—including physicians, nurses, and patient advocates—to monitor outcomes and recommend improvements. Modeled after successful reforms in other states, the bill aims to reduce preventable deaths by turning sepsis guidelines into enforceable hospital safety standards rather than optional best practices. Sepsis is treatable when caught early. No family should lose a loved one because warning signs were missed or protocols were not followed. Sign this petition to urge the Texas Legislature to pass the Nicholas and Darren Sepsis Safety Act and protect patients across Texas. Share this petition to help ensure preventable sepsis deaths are not ignored and that hospitals are held accountable for following life-saving standards.