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Health Committee Carries Over Nitrous Oxide Bill After Members Say Substitute Was Not Distributed
Summary
The Health Committee on Feb. 19 carried over HB 278 after Representative Pringle said members had not received a senate-substituted version and an amendment from the hospital association was expected; lawmakers cited increased recreational use and health harms.
The Health Committee on Feb. 19 voted to carry over HB 278 after members said they had not been given a senate-substituted version of the bill and an amendment from the hospital association was expected.
Representative Pringle told the committee the substitute was not in members’ panels and asked for time to distribute the updated language and the amendment. "You've not had a chance to read it," Pringle said. He described growing public-health concerns tied to recreational nitrous oxide: "It's become a real problem with people that are buying it in the gas stations... This stuff deprives your brain of oxygen," and related anecdotal cases of severe brain injury and a traffic fatality linked to huffing the gas.
The committee did not consider the substitute or vote on the substantive changes. Chair (Committee Chair) said HB 278, by Representative Rigsby, "has been chosen to carry it over," and the item was postponed to allow members time to review the substitute and the anticipated hospital association amendment before further discussion.
Committee members asked whether broader language could be included to prevent future similar products from appearing without additional approval; Pringle and others said members frequently face new products they must address. No formal motion on the substantive bill was taken at the meeting.
The committee deferred further action and will revisit HB 278 once members have the substituted text and the proposed amendment available for review.
