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Senate approves measure allowing minors to consent to prenatal care when guardians unavailable
Summary
House File 2564, substituted for Senate File 21-50, establishes a legal authority for minors to consent to prenatal care if a parent/guardian is not reasonably available; supporters said physicians still must obtain informed consent from the minor.
The Senate granted unanimous consent to substitute House File 2564 for Senate File 21‑50 and then passed HF 2564 after floor remarks. Senator Webster described the bill: "This bill establishes a new legal authority for a minor to consent to prenatal care if a parent or guardian or legal custodian of a minor is not reasonably available." He additionally clarified that the bill "does not relieve the physician, their physician's designee, or an emergency care provider of their duty to obtain informed consent from a minor patient for providing such care."
Senator Donahue urged colleagues to vote for the measure, saying it helps young women who are parents and supports retention of childcare providers who are themselves parents. The Senate read the bill for final passage and recorded 46 ayes, 0 nays; the chair declared the bill passed and the title agreed to.
