Hospitals, advocates urge narrower language on substance‑exposed newborns in HB553 to avoid deterring prenatal care

Medical providers and advocates told a House subcommittee considering House Bill 553 that language about substance‑exposed newborns should be narrowly tailored so it does not deter pregnant people from seeking prenatal care.

"We never wanna create a situation in which we are deterring individuals with substance use disorder from obtaining prenatal care," said Michelle Merritt, president of New Futures, who urged the committee to clarify the statutory language and the intended use of a rebuttable presumption of harm.

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