SB 365 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND RECOVERY NAVIGATION FOR PERSONS WITH AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.

SB 365 requires all licensed hospitals in the state to provide immediate opioid use disorder treatment in emergency departments starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, hospitals must offer buprenorphine medication (a standard treatment for opioid addiction) without requiring patients to be admitted, provide naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) at discharge, and connect patients to local treatment programs. This directly affects patients presenting to emergency rooms with opioid use disorder symptoms. The law aims to streamline access to life-saving care during acute crises by removing barriers to initial treatment.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Joint Favorable Substitute,' indicating it has been approved by both legislative chambers. The core policy changes expand the hospital requirements for treating opioid use disorder by adding methadone as an option alongside buprenorphine and introducing new support documents like 'bridging prescriptions' and 'last-dose letters' to ensure patient safety during transitions to specialized care.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include methadone administration in addition to buprenorphine, and the referral process now specifically requires hospitals to direct patients who received methadone to facilities that also administer methadone.

REQUIREMENT

Hospitals are now required to administer either buprenorphine or methadone to patients with opioid use disorder symptoms, whereas the original version only mandated buprenorphine.

Hospitals administering methadone must now refer patients specifically to treatment programs or community providers that are equipped to administer methadone.

The requirement to provide opioid antagonists was changed from a mandatory provision to an offer that is only fulfilled if the patient accepts.

New provisions were added to ensure nothing in the bill limits a clinician's professional judgment or requires medication if it is clinically contraindicated.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'bridging prescription' and 'last-dose letter' to formalize the documentation required when transferring patients to long-term treatment.

A new definition for 'community provider' was added to clarify which non-hospital entities can administer buprenorphine or methadone.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors