House committee adopts amendment and refers bill to require naloxone in residence halls to Health Finance and Policy

The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee on March 6 adopted an amendment to House File 862 and voted to re-refer the bill to the House Committee on Health Finance and Policy. Representative Schumacher presented the bill and said it would authorize naloxone in college residence halls.

The bill, as amended, narrows where naloxone would be required from “campuses” broadly to residence halls and dormitories. Representative Schumacher said the change reflects conversations with stakeholders and “conforms with what the Senate language is” and will help with the fiscal note. He told the committee the idea came from a constituent who lost a brother to a fentanyl overdose and that campus housing was a priority location for access.

Adam Thompson, advocacy coordinator at Students United, testified in support. Thompson said Students United’s spring visits to Minnesota State campuses revealed “a wide variance of practices” for naloxone access: some campuses keep naloxone with AEDs or in campus safety kits and train staff broadly, while other campuses had little or no naloxone available. Thompson said students, campus housing and security staff, presidents and student governments he spoke with “favored this policy” and that many student senates have passed motions supporting such access. He told the committee the proposal is inexpensive and “will be a crucial tool in saving students’ lives.”

Members asked operational and scope questions. Representative Hansen asked whether two doses per residence hall would be sufficient and how refills would be handled; Thompson said two doses per hall should be sufficient and that campuses would be able to resupply through community partners or purchasing, and that being listed prominently in ordering portals should help maintain supply. Representative Knorr asked whether tribal colleges could be added; Representative Schumacher said he was open to including tribal colleges but noted the committee’s 24-hour amendment rule and that the change could be pursued in the next committee (Health) if not added immediately.

The committee received fiscal-note detail during the discussion. Representative Schumacher summarized the fiscal estimate as presented to the committee: “overall cost for the biennium is $137,000,” with portions allocated to the Department of Health and higher-education systems; he also said ongoing refill costs were the main continuing expense. Members noted the cost is relatively small compared with the potential to save lives.

After discussion, the committee adopted the A1 amendment and, by voice vote, recommended House File 862 as amended be re-referred to the House Committee on Health Finance and Policy.

The bill will next be considered by the House Health Finance and Policy Committee under the referral recorded by the Higher Education committee.