House advances bipartisan EMS modernization bill after two years of stakeholder work

The House considered first substitute Senate Bill 54, the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act, which sponsor Representative Cox characterized as the product of a two‑year consensus involving public and private EMS providers, hospitals, local officials and state staff. The bill is intended to update the 1981 EMS Act to address cost, quality and access and to expand local government involvement in oversight and licensing.

Representative Cox explained the fiscal mechanism: the State Bureau of EMS currently collects testing fees of roughly $125,000 while the State provides about $80,000 for single‑site practical testing; SB54 redirects collected fees into dedicated credits to expand statewide testing and operations, raising available funds to an estimated $125,000 and increasing capacity. Sponsor and supporters framed the measure as bipartisan and consensus driven.

During floor action members asked for additional time to review the 48‑page bill (a motion to circle was made and withdrawn in some cases), but floor leaders emphasized the bill's priority on the Senate list and the consensus formation leading to it. The House later circled and then took up the bill again, ultimately passing the first substitute SB54 with recorded unanimous support when taken—first substitute SB54 was reported as passing the House with 69 yes and 0 no votes on the day.

The bill directs additional local deliberation authority in provider licensing and clarifies records, immunity for mediation officers, and program structure to reflect current operations and funding mechanisms.