Rep. Mueller urges bill to supply opioid antagonists to life-support agencies; committee hears brief testimony

Representative Mueller presented House Bill 4417 to the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Oct. 26, saying the bill would require a department that distributes an opioid antagonist free of charge to provide that antagonist, upon request, directly to life-support agencies for equipping life-support vehicles.

“This bill is pretty simple,” Representative Mueller told the committee, describing requests from local fire chiefs and recounting occasions when first responders administered naloxone in the field. He said the measure would ensure fire departments and life-support vehicles can obtain opioid antagonists at no cost when the department provides the product to other agencies.

Committee members asked technical and safety questions. Representative Wazia asked whether the procedure for administering antagonists differs by product; Mueller said there are multiple products and he was not sure of differences but described the nasal spray format and that administration takes minimal training. Representative Thompson asked about the benefit to firefighters’ safety, noting the risk of incidental exposure to fentanyl; Mueller said availability of antagonists on fire trucks can reduce risk to both first responders and patients and recounted a personal example of saving an overdose victim because naloxone was in his vehicle.

Representative Mueller said the bill is intended to ensure life-support vehicles, including fire trucks that are often first on scene, are equipped with opioid antagonists so they can respond promptly to overdoses. The transcript records support from a card filed by Linda Davis of Face Addiction Now and a card from a witness who did not wish to speak but was listed in the record. No committee vote on HB 4417 is recorded in this transcript; the committee adjourned after further business.