RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

SB 1497 establishes a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health to provide guidance on the needs of individuals with rare diseases. The council will advise the state on policy and resource allocation specifically for rare disease patients. This bill directly affects residents diagnosed with rare diseases and the health department responsible for addressing their care needs. The key mechanism is creating a formal advisory body to ensure patient perspectives inform state health decisions, without changing existing healthcare programs. The bill is currently pending introduction for the 2026 session.