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After hours of testimony, committee votes it 'inexpedient to legislate' on bill to dissolve Office of Health Access
Summary
Representative Mike Belcher proposed HB392 to dissolve the Office of Health Access and an environmental justice program; dozens of witnesses—including DHHS officials, refugee‑resettlement groups, disability advocates and providers—urged opposition. The committee voted to report the bill Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).
Representative Mike Belcher opened debate on the amended House Bill 392 by arguing the Office of Health Access (previously Office of Health Equity) and the state's environmental justice program should be dissolved. Belcher described concerns about the office's ideological underpinnings and said the amended bill preserves federally required carve‑outs such as language access and disability accommodations.
DHHS witnesses strongly opposed the bill. Anne Landry, associate commissioner at the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee the Office of Health Access is "our centralized coordinating body that helps us achieve health access and…
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