Stop Texas From Letting Kids Buy Livestock Drug
The Issue
On August 27, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 25 into law. Beginning December 4, Texans will be able to walk into a pharmacy and purchase ivermectin, a drug widely known for treating parasites in livestock, without a prescription.
The law sets no age limit. That means even children could request ivermectin directly from a pharmacist. Under the bill, pharmacists are instructed to discuss possible side effects like nausea, dizziness, or skin rash before handing it over, but they cannot refuse to sell it. They are also shielded from liability if someone has an adverse reaction.
Ivermectin is approved for some human uses, such as treating parasitic worms, but the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for COVID-19 or other viral illnesses. In fact, federal health officials have repeatedly warned against using ivermectin to treat COVID because large doses can be dangerous. During the height of the pandemic, hospitals saw a surge of patients misusing the drug, and in 2021 at least two people in New Mexico died after taking it as a supposed COVID cure.
By taking doctors out of the process, this new law creates serious risks. Physicians are the ones who review medical histories, allergies, and dosage to ensure drugs are safe for patients. Allowing anyone, including children, to obtain ivermectin without that safeguard puts Texans in harm’s way.
Supporters of the law frame it as “medical freedom,” but real freedom comes with responsibility and accurate information. House Bill 25 does not provide either. Instead, it fuels confusion, undermines trust in science, and puts families at risk of serious harm.
This law must be fixed before it takes effect. Leaders in Texas cannot ignore the danger of making a livestock drug widely available to children with no prescription and no medical oversight. Families across the state deserve better than a reckless experiment that gambles with their health and safety.
We call on the Texas Board of Pharmacy, the Texas Legislature’s Public Health Committee, and Governor Abbott to amend House Bill 25 before December 4. Texans deserve protection, not politics.
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The Issue
On August 27, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 25 into law. Beginning December 4, Texans will be able to walk into a pharmacy and purchase ivermectin, a drug widely known for treating parasites in livestock, without a prescription.
The law sets no age limit. That means even children could request ivermectin directly from a pharmacist. Under the bill, pharmacists are instructed to discuss possible side effects like nausea, dizziness, or skin rash before handing it over, but they cannot refuse to sell it. They are also shielded from liability if someone has an adverse reaction.
Ivermectin is approved for some human uses, such as treating parasitic worms, but the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for COVID-19 or other viral illnesses. In fact, federal health officials have repeatedly warned against using ivermectin to treat COVID because large doses can be dangerous. During the height of the pandemic, hospitals saw a surge of patients misusing the drug, and in 2021 at least two people in New Mexico died after taking it as a supposed COVID cure.
By taking doctors out of the process, this new law creates serious risks. Physicians are the ones who review medical histories, allergies, and dosage to ensure drugs are safe for patients. Allowing anyone, including children, to obtain ivermectin without that safeguard puts Texans in harm’s way.
Supporters of the law frame it as “medical freedom,” but real freedom comes with responsibility and accurate information. House Bill 25 does not provide either. Instead, it fuels confusion, undermines trust in science, and puts families at risk of serious harm.
This law must be fixed before it takes effect. Leaders in Texas cannot ignore the danger of making a livestock drug widely available to children with no prescription and no medical oversight. Families across the state deserve better than a reckless experiment that gambles with their health and safety.
We call on the Texas Board of Pharmacy, the Texas Legislature’s Public Health Committee, and Governor Abbott to amend House Bill 25 before December 4. Texans deserve protection, not politics.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on September 18, 2025