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Committee passes a package of health and professional regulation bills
Summary
In one hearing the committee approved Senate Bill 65 (legislative input on state clean-power planning), SB341 (collective-bargaining ban for state agencies), House Bill 1061 (patient visitation rights during outbreaks), HB1215 (CNM full practice authority), and additional technical bills on pelvic-exam consent and telemedicine; most passed on voice votes after testimony.
The Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee handled a slate of bills and approved multiple measures by voice vote.
Key outcomes:
- Senate Bill 65: Passed as amended. Sponsor described the bill as restoring legislative input into state planning when complying with federal environmental rules; the committee adopted an amendment limiting annual reporting requirements.
- Senate Bill 341: Passed (do pass). The bill would prohibit collective bargaining for state agencies (not cities/counties); the committee adopted an amendment that the sponsor said exempts firefighters and many local transit authorities but labor and education groups urged the committee to reconsider due to rights and federal-funding concerns.
- House Bill 1061: Passed (do pass). HB1061 aims to ensure designated caregivers can access patients in hospitals and nursing homes during future infectious-disease restrictions; DHS testified about potential federal-law interactions and multiple family members described harms from prolonged isolation.
- House Bill 1215: Passed (do pass). HB1215 would allow certified nurse midwives to practice to the full extent of their training without the state's interpartum agreement requirement; medical experts and midwives testified the change would expand access and that credentialing and hospital privileging would remain safeguards.
- Additional house bills: The committee also advanced measures on pelvic-exam consent for unconscious patients and on continuing telemedicine reimbursement for certain behavioral and mental health services; those measures were described as noncontroversial.
All measures passed out of committee and will proceed to subsequent legislative steps.
