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Committee recommends ITL on perinatal mental health bill after sponsor seeks delay
Summary
Representative Paige Beauchamp urged broader perinatal mental‑health policy but requested ITL for HB 17‑47; committee approved the ITL motion in executive session. Sponsors and clinicians emphasized that screening must be paired with warm handoffs and workforce expansion to be effective.
Representative Paige Beauchamp (Nashua), a maternal‑child health nurse certified in perinatal mental health, presented HB 17‑47 and told the committee that while the topic deserves more attention, the current bill would be better handled after further stakeholder work. Beauchamp argued that screening alone is ineffective without a reliable system for warm handoffs to clinicians, lactation consultants or doulas and noted a shortage of certified perinatal mental‑health providers.
After testimony and limited questioning, the committee went into executive session and Representative Drew moved Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL) on HB 17‑47. The clerk called the roll and the motion passed by roll call (recorded yes votes; motion passes). The sponsor thanked the committee for considering broader work on workforce and service linkages rather than immediate enactment.
