The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a single day reported a large block of health-related bills, referred one bill to the Appropriations Committee, and recorded recorded several individual votes on bills of interest to maternal and behavioral health advocates.

Among the actions: the committee referred SB758 (which would expand Medicaid coverage for remote patient monitoring services for pregnant and postpartum persons) to Appropriations; it approved an opioid-antagonist statute expansion (SB1035) on a 16-1 vote; and it approved a substitute for a bill to add Medicaid payment for postpartum doula care (SB1418), amending allowable visits to a total of up to 10 visits — up to four prenatal and up to six postpartum — and reported that substitute out of committee 16-0.

Committee counsel described a large group of uncontested bills that were identical to companion House measures; the committee moved those as a block and reported them on a roll call of 17-0. Several bills discussed in the block were technical or programmatic changes, including bills on certified midwives and on appeals processes for DMAS determinations. Committee members and counsel indicated the legislative history for corresponding House bills was in the docket and that offices had coordinated to make the Senate and House texts identical where appropriate.

On SB1035 (opioid antagonists), the committee chair opened the roll and the bill emerged on a vote of 16 to 1. Committee discussion described the change as adding other opioid antagonists beyond naloxone to the statute.

On SB1418 (postpartum doula care), committee discussion and a later amendment in the nature of a substitute clarified the number and timing of allowable doula visits: the substitute increased the permitted total to up to 10 visits, specifying up to four before delivery and up to six postpartum. The substitute was reported out on a 16-0 vote.

A separate contested bill (described in committee discussion as a contraception-related measure) was considered with a substitute that added a provision specifying that nothing in the bill would permit or sanction sterilization without voluntary informed consent; committee counsel described that as the sole change in the offered substitute. That substitute later passed on a roll vote (the committee recorded a roll vote of 11 to 5 on a substitute for a bill considered during the session).

Several other bills were taken up, amended or conformed so Senate and House versions matched; committee counsel and staff repeatedly noted that conforming language came at the request of agencies or to make versions identical across chambers. A final nursing home licensure and inspection fee bill discussed at the end of the session was reported with a substitute on a 17-0 vote; that conforming substitute restored fund-creation language that had been removed in the Senate version and made the bill identical to the House measure.

Votes at a glance:
- Block of uncontested bills (multiple SB numbers): reported and passed 17-0 (roll call)
- SB758 (remote patient monitoring for pregnant/postpartum persons): referred to Appropriations (reporting to Appropriations requested)
- SB1035 (expand statute to include other opioid antagonists beyond naloxone): reported 16-1
- SB1418 (Medicaid payment for postpartum doula care; substitute specifying up to 10 visits): reported 16-0
- Contraception-related bill (substitute adding sterilization-consent clause): substitute reported 11-5
- Nursing home licensure and inspection fees (Senate sponsor Srinivasan conforming substitute): reported 17-0

Committee counsel and staff indicated further steps on several bills will include conforming language with House measures and referral to appropriations where fiscal impacts were identified.