Senate committee adopts delay for telebehavioral reimbursement rules, advances HB 4070A to the floor

The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health on Feb. 26 adopted an amendment to delay part of House Bill 4,070A and forwarded the bill to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

Katie, a committee staffer, told the panel that HB 4,070 is intended to reduce administrative burdens for behavioral‑health providers and modernize terms related to mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual or developmental disabilities. She described the A‑10 amendment, which clarifies requirements for telebehavioral‑health providers to be eligible for reimbursement, and the A‑11 amendment, which is identical to A‑10 except it moves the effective date for the reimbursement eligibility provisions to Jan. 1, 2027 and removes the emergency clause.

Senator Anderson moved adoption of the A‑11 amendment (dated 02/24/2026). The clerk called the roll; Senators Gelser, Lendtuk, Patterson, Vice Chair Anderson and Chair Reynolds voted aye. “The motion passes and the dash a 11 amendment is adopted,” Chair Reynolds said. The committee then voted to forward HB 4,070A as amended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; the motion passed on roll call.

Committee staff told members the bill has a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact. Chair Reynolds said the A‑10 change had been intended for the House and that the A‑11 amendment provides more time for providers to comply with new licensure expectations.

The committee asked no further questions during the work session and assigned Senator Anderson to carry the bill to the floor. The committee adjourned after brief closing remarks from Chair Reynolds about the short session’s work and other items on the committee’s agenda.