A new state law in Texas that extends the notification period for hospitals to tell families that their loved ones will be taken off of life support will go into effect on Friday.

The new law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) in June, increases the notice period from 10 days to 25 days, which gives family members an opportunity to find a different healthcare facility that will continue to care for the patient. Texas is among a small number of states that require formal notification of a hospital's intention to take a patient off of life support.

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Here is everything you need to know about the new Texas law.

What is the new state law and what does it do exactly:

The new law, House Bill 3162, requires doctors to inform family members of patients on life support about their intention to stop all life-preserving measures 25 days in advance. This is an increase from the previous 10-day requirement. Families are also allowed to participate in an ethics review meeting that evaluates a doctor's decision to end life support.

The new law additionally requires hospitals to track and report to the Health and Human Services Commission when doctors are withdrawing life-sustaining care.

If a family does want to transfer the care of a loved one, doctors will be required to perform all surgeries and procedures to make it possible. For example, some facilities will only accept a patient if they have had certain procedures, and this requires the hospital to perform that procedure.

Doctors are also not allowed to dismiss a patient's Do Not Resuscitate order.

When can doctors make the decision to pull life support:

Under the Texas Advance Directives Act of 1999, life support can be removed when the hospital determines that care is “futile.” But patients can still dictate what care they want toward the end of their lives in a directive, and designate an agent or individual to make medical decisions for them when they are unable.

How has the public reacted to the new law:

Lawmakers have been trying to change the law for years, but could never reach an agreement. Although both sides, including medical professionals and patients, believe the law is a good step, some argue that it does not go far enough.

Some groups want an end to the notification period and say hospitals should be forced to continue life support until families have found another place to keep their loved ones, or until they decide to take the family member off of life support.

“While 25 days is not anywhere close to where we want to be, this package also had other meaningful reforms of the process that are going to be good for Texas,” Texas Right To Life President John Seago told the Texas Tribune. “We were also talking about other good changes to make the process more pro-patient and pro-family.”

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When does the law go into effect:

The new law will go into effect on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. It was passed with bipartisan support in both chambers in May.