Appropriations Committee advances bill expanding Department of Health authority on pharmacist immunizations despite GOP opposition
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Summary
House Bill 18 81, which would allow the Department of Health to provide immunization administration guidelines for pharmacists and change exemption timing for registered pharmacy technicians, passed the committee and was referred to the House floor after Republicans announced they would vote no and Democrats were recorded as affirmative.
The House Appropriations Committee voted to advance House Bill 18 81 to the House floor after a brief consideration that produced a party‑line division.
According to the committee executive director’s overview, House Bill 18 81 would make the Department of Health an authority that can provide immunization administration guidelines for pharmacists and would expand the exemption period for pharmacy technicians registered with the Board of Pharmacy. The transcript does not include the bill text, fiscal notes or detailed implementing language.
Vote and parties: A committee member said, "on house bill 18 81 Republicans will be voting in the negative." The chair then stated that Democrats would be recorded in the affirmative. The chair declared that House Bill 18 81 would pass the committee and be referred to the House floor; individual roll‑call votes and totals do not appear in the transcript.
Context and implications: If enacted, the bill would change the Department of Health’s role in pharmacist immunization practices and alter registration exemption timing for pharmacy technicians; the transcript does not specify whether rulemaking, additional approvals, or funding would be required to implement the changes.
Next steps: With committee approval recorded, the bill will move to the House floor for further consideration by the full chamber.
