RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

SB 1497 establishes a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health. The council will advise the state on the needs of people living with rare diseases, directly affecting this patient community. Its key mechanism is creating a formal process for rare disease patients and advocates to provide input on state health policies. The bill does not allocate funding or change existing programs but aims to improve how the state addresses rare disease challenges through structured patient feedback.