The House Health and Human Services Committee on [date not specified] amended and approved House Bill 50, which clarifies access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for people in the postpartum period and moved the bill to the House floor for further consideration.

Members adopted an amendment extending explicit protection for seeking care through the first 12 months after delivery. Committee members said the change responds to testimony and mortality data discussed during the hearing and is intended to remove perceived barriers that could deter people from getting treatment after giving birth.

House Bill 50 was introduced by Representative Marshall by the request of the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee. Committee staff summarized the bill as “An Act Providing pregnant women with substance use disorder” (summary in committee packet). The amendment added language specifying that a woman seeking postpartum health care up to 12 months after delivery may seek SUD treatment without that alone being a basis for child abuse or neglect action or for a drug-related arrest.

Supporters on the committee said the postpartum year includes elevated mortality risk for birthing people and that access to treatment during that period can be life-saving. Representative Cunningham said she supported expanding the protected postpartum period to 12 months, citing evidence presented during the hearing about higher mortality in the extended postpartum period.

The amendment passed on a roll-call vote reported as 18 yeas and 3 nays. After the amendment was adopted, the committee voted to give the bill a “do pass” recommendation; the chair characterized the final committee vote as a due-pass and said House Bill 50 will move to the floor.

No changes to implementation timelines or funding sources were discussed on the record in committee. The bill packet included one amendment (50.1.1) for the committee to consider; that amendment was the one adopted.

Votes at a glance
• Amendment 50.1.1 (extends protected postpartum period to 12 months): adopted, roll-call reported 18–3.
• House Bill 50 as amended: committee gave a due-pass recommendation and will move to the House floor.

What happens next
The committee chair announced the bill will be reported to the House floor. The transcript did not record a floor date, fiscal note details, or a final House floor vote during this hearing.