House committee advances bills requiring unconscious-bias and cultural-competency training for health professionals

The committee reported two separate bills addressing unconscious-bias and cultural-competency training for licensed health professionals.

HB 1649, sponsored by Delegate Hayes, would direct the Board of Medicine to require unconscious-bias and cultural-competency training as part of license renewal. Counsel explained the bill does not specify the number of training hours; the requirement would be incorporated into existing continuing-education obligations administered by the board. The subcommittee recommended reporting the bill, and it advanced from committee on a roll call of 11-7.

HB 1675, also by Delegate Hayes and recommended by the Joint Commission on Health Care, similarly adds unconscious-bias and cultural-competency training to continuing-education requirements with specific emphasis in the first training on maternal health disparities and care for patients with conditions such as sickle cell disease. The subcommittee recommended reporting; the full committee reported HB 1675 by a vote of 11-8.

Committee members questioned how the training would be implemented and whether the bill sets limits on hours or frequency. Committee counsel said the bill does not specify a numeric hour requirement; those details remain within the board's continuing-education regulations. Delegate Price said the measure responds to recent testimony and summit discussions on maternal health disparities, and supporters cited research indicating training can reduce care disparities.

Votes at a glance: HB 1649 (require training for Board of Medicine license renewal) ' reported 11-7. HB 1675 (unconscious-bias and cultural competency in continuing education) ' reported 11-8.

Both bills now proceed with the committee's reports for further legislative consideration.