Senate panel adds nasal‑spray epinephrine option and advances school allergy bill

The Senate Education Committee on the opening order adopted Amendment 1863‑1 to a school‑health bill to add nasal‑spray epinephrine as a form of student‑directed epinephrine that schools can carry and distribute.

Senator Huffman moved the amendment, saying it "adds the nasal spray throughout the bill that can be distributed in the same fashion as an EpiPen today" and directs the Pharmacy Board to review other new delivery forms for approval. Chair Brenner put the amendment in order and authorized staff at LSC to harmonize changes into the sub bill.

Kate King, executive director of the Ohio Association of School Nurses, testified in support. "The language that you just provided as the amendment is really what the Ohio Association of School Nurses would love to see...we don't want to have to come back over and over" as new formulations, such as a possible sublingual tablet, arrive on the market.

Vice Chair Blessing moved to favorably report the amended House Bill 462 to the Committee on Rules and Reference. The clerk called the roll and the motion passed unanimously.

The committee recorded no opposition in the room to the amendment; the matter will proceed to the Rules and Reference calendar for further action.

What happens next: The amended bill will be carried forward to Rules and Reference for committee consideration there. Any further changes from LSC harmonization will be reflected in the next print of the sub bill.