Health benefit plans; requiring coverage for certain prescription. Effective date.
SB 176 requires health benefit plans (like employer or individual insurance) to cover specific prescription medications. It directly affects health insurers and planholders by mandating coverage for these drugs, which may reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients. The bill does not specify which medications but mandates that insurers include them in standard coverage. It became law on May 29, 2025, without a gubernatorial signature, applying to all qualifying health benefit plans in the state.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Last action May 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was moved from the House version to the Senate floor version, where it was amended to change the prescription supply limits for contraceptive drugs. The House version required a three-month supply initially and a six-month supply for subsequent prescriptions, while the Senate version increased this to a three-month initial supply and a twelve-month supply for subsequent prescriptions. The Senate version also clarified that enrollees can only obtain one twelve-month supply per twelve-month period and added language stating that the law does not require coverage for medications used to terminate pregnancies.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding contraceptive drug coverage was expanded to allow for longer prescription supplies (up to twelve months) while maintaining restrictions on the number of supplies an enrollee can obtain per year.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the contraceptive drug supply requirement from a six-month supply for subsequent prescriptions to a twelve-month supply for subsequent prescriptions.
Added a limitation that enrollees may obtain only one twelve-month supply of a covered prescription drug during each twelve-month period.
DEFINITION
Added clarification that the law does not require coverage for medications that could be used to terminate an existing pregnancy.
TECHNICAL
Changed the committee report attribution from the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Oversight to the Senate Committee on Business and Insurance.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
43
Key actions
13
Committee
8
Amendments
3
May 22, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Fourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 65 Nays: 25
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
CCR adopted
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed, to House: Ayes: 30 Nays: 16
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
CCR adopted
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference granted, naming Conference Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Oversight
lower
May 6, 2025
Amended
HAs rejected, conference requested
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
May 5, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 74 Nays: 15
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee; Do Pass Insurance
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Insurance
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 33 Nays: 13
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
General Order, Amended
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass as amended Business and Insurance committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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