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Committee hears broad support for psilocybin pilot; HF2906 referred to Commerce Finance & Policy
Summary
After hours of testimony from researchers, clinicians, veterans and people with lived experience, the committee referred House File 2906 — a proposed regulated pilot for psilocybin‑assisted psychotherapy with protections and caps — to Commerce Finance & Policy for further review, including fiscal analysis and rulemaking details.
Representative Smith presented House File 2906 to establish a tightly regulated psilocybin‑assisted psychotherapy pilot for adults 21 and older, with clinical screening, informed consent, and a three‑phase care model of preparation, supervised administration and integration therapy. The bill would limit the first three years to no more than 1,000 patients, 50 registered facilitators and three testing facilities; the Department of Health would lead rulemaking and licensure, with an interagency agreement proposed with the Office of Cannabis Management on registries and cultivation/testing oversight.
A long list of clinicians, researchers, veterans and people with lived experience testified in support. Dr. Jessica Nelson, chair of the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force, summarized clinical trial evidence and urged a pilot model; Dr. Patti Dickman, a psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, said psilocybin shows promise for treatment‑resistant conditions and low abuse potential. Veterans and other individuals described life‑changing benefits they attributed to therapeutic psilocybin access. Supporters emphasized safeguards in the bill: screening, trained facilitators, licensed facilities and a required three‑year evaluation.
Members probed facilitator qualifications, training hours and criminal background checks, as well as program evaluation metrics and the pending fiscal note. Representative Smith said rulemaking would allow the Department of Health to set facilitator education and testing standards and that the three‑year review would assess safety, effectiveness and broader social impacts. Several members noted they want to see the fiscal note and indicated the bill will need further committee stops for budget and civil/criminal liability considerations. The committee voted to refer HF2906 to the Commerce Finance & Policy Committee; proponents and some members said they are available to refine facilitator standards and evaluation metrics.
What happens next: HF2906 moves to Commerce Finance & Policy for a fiscal review and rulemaking discussions; supporters asked the Department of Health to develop clear facilitator qualifications, evaluation criteria and cost estimates before further floor consideration.
