The committee reported substitute House Bill 14 27 out of committee with a do-pass recommendation after sponsors and negotiators revised technical details and delayed the effective date to allow insurers and regulators time to implement new billing provisions for certified peer specialists.

Representative Davis, speaking for the bill, said the measure builds on prior work that created the certified peer specialist profession and seeks to maximize insurance billing to support peer services that currently rely on state general-fund dollars.

Opposition was limited and mixed on the Republican side, with Representative Marshall noting implementation "bumps" during prior rollouts and some members expressing concerns about role limits and provider definitions. The committee recorded a roll-call vote of 15 ayes, 4 nays; chair staff announced the substitute was reported out of committee with a do-pass recommendation.

Ending: The substitute advances with technical fixes and delayed effective dates to allow insurance carriers and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and operationalize billing changes for peer specialists.