(March 26, 2025) – Today, the House and Senate Conference Committee members agreed to a conference committee report that will be contained in Sub for Senate Bill 126. The legislation will include:

• Allowing the provider assessment flexibility to go up to 6 percent.
• Allowing certain hospitals to participate in the program as determined by the health care access and improvement panel.
• Adding the universal newborn screening program in permanent statute.
• Making transfers to local health departments statutory rather than in budget.

The committee agreed to remove the provisions of the permanent updates to the state Children's Health Insurance Program but highlighted a desire to discuss a permanent solution further during the interim. The committee noted that the budget bill contains language that will match CHIP eligibility for two years to the current federal poverty rates. The conference committee report, once signed, will need a vote in House and Senate chambers.