TO ADD DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY TO THE UNIVERSAL NEWBORN SCREENING ACT.

HB 1302 would have required Arkansas newborns to be screened for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle-wasting disease, as part of the state's universal newborn screening program. The bill amended state law to add DMD to the list of conditions screened for, aligning with federal screening recommendations. This change would have directly affected all newborns in Arkansas by enabling earlier detection of DMD, potentially leading to faster intervention. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 14, 2025, and did not become law.