Committee amends bill to remove infant-formula provision and sets effective date for report

Committee members debated whether to include infant formula in the bill and ultimately asked counsel to remove the provision that would have added infant formula, keeping other recent edits in place. Katie returned with draft 4.1 reflecting the requested change and a single effective date for the bill of 01/01/2027.

"So section 1 is the new section that you're seeing... and then you asked me to remove section 2 of the bill, so now we just have an effective date. So actually, it'll take effect on 01/01/2027," Katie told members after presenting draft 4.1.

Representative O'Brien moved to amend H536 with version 4.1; the clerk called the roll and members recorded affirmative votes. Members described the filing as "favorable with amendment." Committeepersons noted that the exemption for infant formula was restored in the draft and that the committee could consider related amendments later on the floor.

Why it matters: The change prevents the bill from immediately adding infant formula into its regulated category, preserving a carve-out the committee preferred while allowing the underlying policy changes to proceed with a clarified effective date.

Next steps: Draft 4.1 will be filed as the committee's amended version and sent to the clerk for further legislative processing.