Senator Steinborn's Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 353 passed the Senate after debate over process and enforcement. The bill requires that dispatchers call state police to obtain a mission number before volunteer search‑and‑rescue (SAR) organizations are officially activated.

Sponsor Senator Steinborn said the change addresses inconsistent practice across jurisdictions: "...it's mandatory that a dispatcher, when they get a call that meets the criteria of a search and rescue wilderness emergency, that they will then make that call to the state police." Supporters and the bill’s expert witness, Bob Rogers (the state's search‑and‑rescue coordinator), said the requirement will reduce delays that have in some cases led to death or severe injury.

Opponents and some questioners — including Senator Ezell and Senator Block — asked whether the bill creates meaningful enforcement or accountability if a local dispatcher fails to make the call. Critics also asked about training and exercises, and whether local agencies are consistently participating in statewide exercises. Sponsors responded that the bill does not add an appropriation but creates a mandatory notification step; they said local primacy of on‑scene authorities remains and that state police coordination will augment local response.

The floor recorded three negative votes (Senators Ezell, Block and Boone). The tally recorded on the floor was 31 affirmative, 3 negative. The motion for final passage was made by Senator Steinborn and the Senate passed the measure.