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Committee votes to repeal COVID-19 testing requirement for new long-term care hires and admissions
Summary
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 645, which would remove a state requirement that long-term care facilities test new hires and new admissions for COVID-19. Committee supporters said the change reflects updated federal guidance and current infection-control practices.
Representative Lahoud presented House Bill 645 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, asking the panel to repeal a state requirement that long-term care facilities test new hires and new admissions for COVID-19. The committee voted unanimously to advance the bill.
The measure would remove the pandemic-era requirement added in 2020 that triggered mandatory testing for new staff and incoming residents to senior living and other long-term care settings. “And that was appropriate at the time. There were visitor restrictions. There were just all kind of, you know, extraordinary circumstances going on,” Representative Lahoud said, adding that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has since rescinded that specific recommendation.
Supporters said current infection-control rules remain in place for facilities and that singling out new hires or admissions for COVID testing is no longer necessary. Chairman Kirkpatrick moved a “do pass” recommendation and Chairman Huffstetler seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
The committee recorded the action as a committee pass; the bill will proceed through the legislative process per standard rules.
