Committee adopts amendment to HB1454 on notice-before-requirement; AG warns of broad public-health conflicts

Committee action: The House Industry, Business and Labor Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 1454 that would bar state agencies and political subdivisions from requiring an individual to take, receive or disclose whether they have taken a “medical product” unless the person was first notified and given an opportunity to decline and failed to exercise that opportunity.

Why it matters: The amendment, offered by Representative Kent Koppelman and seconded by Representative Schatz, attempts to write an opt-out requirement into law for state-mandated medical products. The committee then paused further action on the bill after the Office of the Attorney General raised legal and public-health concerns about the amendment’s breadth and lack of exceptions.

What the amendment would do: Representative Koppelman told the committee the language was intended to “get to the heart” of the sponsor’s goal while reducing objections, placing the onus on individuals to opt out after being notified rather than on government to mandate medical products. He moved the amendment and it was…