House passes package of bills including HPV Awareness Day, battery recycling, mobile pharmacies and cash‑rounding measure

The chamber passed a series of bills on final reading that received little extended floor debate or were supported by sponsors and committee recommendations.

Among them:

- HB 4,135 (HPV Awareness Day): Representative Hartman described the measure as an awareness‑raising effort tied to personal experience and urged colleagues to support March 4 as International HPV Awareness Day; the bill passed on third reading.

- HB 4,047 (rural emergency hospitals): Representative Harbeck noted unanimous committee support and urged a yes vote; the bill passed.

- HB 4,131 (mobile pharmacies): Representative Ruiz said the Board of Pharmacy will issue new licenses and perform rulemaking; the bill passed.

- HB 4,144 (battery producer responsibility): Representative Levy described a producer responsibility program to reduce fires caused by lithium batteries in the waste stream; DEQ will administer the program and set fees by rule; the bill passed.

- HB 4,178 (cash rounding): Representative Wallen said retailers may round cash transactions with proper signage; bill passed.

- SB 15 39 (animal health care): Representative Owens carried the Senate bill on third reading, describing permissive preg‑checking by trained non‑veterinarians under veterinary board rules; the bill passed.

Each measure was declared passed after the clerk opened the voting system and the clerk confirmed the constitutional majority where required.

What to watch: DEQ rulemaking and Board of Pharmacy rulemaking timelines for HB 4,144 and HB 4,131, respectively; local implementation details will follow in agency rulemaking records.