Senate committee advances bill to place opioid-overdose medication in schools

Senator Linda Chesterfield introduced House Bill 15 14, saying the measure "affords us an opportunity to save children's lives" by allowing opioid‑overdose medication to be placed in schools and administered when needed.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee there is no general‑revenue cost because funds are available from the state opioid division; a division representative ("Mister Lane") was present to answer funding questions. Chesterfield moved a do‑pass recommendation; Senator Davis seconded and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Committee members asked whether implementation or training needs were required; the sponsor replied the funding source will cover deployment and emphasized the bill is intended to get life‑saving medication into school sites quickly. The motion passed without recorded roll call and the bill will move out of the Education Committee with a do‑pass recommendation.

Next steps: the bill was advanced from committee and will proceed to the next stage in the legislative process.