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Committee approves repeal of statutory newborn eye‑ointment requirement after failed amendment to retain default treatment
Summary
House Bill 3444, which would repeal code sections requiring immediate prophylactic eye ointment for newborns, was reported to the full Senate after committee debate. An amendment to restore a default treatment with an opt‑out was rejected; sponsors and opponents described public‑health tradeoffs.
The Senate Health committee voted to report House Bill 3444 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass after debate over whether state law should require antibiotic eye ointment for newborns.
Counsel described the bill as a repeal of code provisions relating to inflammation of the eyes of newborns and said the bill would be effective upon passage. Committee members pressed counsel on whether the repeal would remove the current statutory obligation that a…
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