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Committee backs bill to educate clinicians and families about PANS and PANDAS
Summary
Lawmakers heard emotional testimony supporting House Bill 5004, an education‑focused measure on pediatric acute‑onset neuropsychiatric syndromes (PANS/PANDAS). A delegate who described his daughter's multi‑year diagnosis process urged the committee to advance the bill; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate.
A Senate committee voted to report House Bill 5004, a measure focused on education about Pediatric Acute‑onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS).
Counsel told the committee the bill before them is educational in nature and not the insurance‑mandate version of the legislation. Delegate Ian Masters, who identified himself as representing House District 91, described his family's experience with a child who suffered prolonged symptoms after a strep infection and urged better education so other families receive earlier diagnosis and care. "I have a daughter that had a strep infection that sort of didn't clear from the body ... They lose the ability to speak ... They develop these tics and disorders sort of like OCD," Masters said, explaining that an 18‑month search for diagnosis and treatment delayed recovery.
Senators and delegates in the committee thanked Masters and voiced support; the vice chair then moved that the bill be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation to pass, and the committee adopted the motion by voice vote.
Next steps: The bill was reported to the full Senate; counsel noted the Department of Health would be the impacted agency and said the bill would be effective in 90 days if enacted.
