Rules committee advances multiple substitutes, including health care, credentialing and charter reimbursement language

The rules committee moved and approved substitutes for several Senate bills during the session.

Chairman Hawkins explained a substitute to Senate Bill 411 that combines HB 291 (community health care workers) and HB 662 (rural hospital organization). Hawkins said the substitute removes a three‑year average tax‑language provision that could cause problems for rural hospitals as Health Care Transformation Act funding arrives; the committee adopted the substitute.

Chairman Newton presented a larger department bill, Senate Bill 440, noting it eliminates several outdated advisory boards and adds multiple sections, including language to treat certain ivermectin formulations as a controlled/behind‑the‑counter drug with pharmacist involvement and rulemaking by the state board of pharmacy. Newton also said the bill directs the Department of Community Health to work with insurers and stakeholders to produce a standardized credentialing form by July 1, 2027, to speed provider onboarding. Newton described a behavioral health parity compliance review panel that would involve the insurance commissioner and a process for reviewing parity complaints. The committee debated whether the ivermectin provision expanded access; Newton said the change preserves prescription access and adds pharmacist involvement similar to how pseudoephedrine is handled; the committee adopted the substitute.

Chairman Irvin said a substitute to Senate Bill 475 would require a local charter school that ceases operation to reimburse the local school system an amount equal to the money invested in that school; the substitute was approved.

Chairman Martin described Senate Bill 556 as a composite measure that bundles previously considered provisions — including adding advanced fine arts courses to the HOPE GPA calculation and graduate medical education provisions for public university medical schools — along with other higher education and TCSG fixes; the committee approved the substitute after confirming the graduate medical education language applies to the university system.

Under the committee's modified structure rule the chair set a calendar to put the approved substitutes and other bills (including SB 76, SB 91, SB 513 and SB 52) on the floor calendar. Several motions passed without recorded opposition; a few items prompted objections on the floor but were nevertheless carried onto the calendar.

Votes at a glance

- Substitute to SB 76 (LC3095134S): approved by voice vote.
- Substitute to SB 411 (LC46157S): adopted.
- Substitute to SB 440 (LC600375S): adopted after discussion (one objection noted during voice vote, but the chair announced approval).
- Substitute to SB 475 (LC61‑0516S): approved.
- Substitute to SB 556 (LC610519S): approved.

The committee's actions place the substitutes on the calendar for further consideration by the full chamber; the transcript does not record final floor votes.