Healthcare

HB 1039 requires all students participating in school sports to undergo a pre-participation physical exam within one year of the season start. The exam must include heart health questions about the student's personal and family history, documented on a state-approved form signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Schools must collect these forms before students can join athletic activities. Additionally, the Department of Health must create and distribute educational materials about sudden cardiac arrest to all school districts and healthcare providers, outlining screening guidelines and symptoms requiring specialist referral. This bill directly affects minors in school sports, their schools, and healthcare practitioners conducting these evaluations.

HB 1053 requires terminal care facilities (hospitals, inpatient hospice, or residential hospice) to permit terminally ill patients with a medical cannabis card to store and use medical cannabis within the facility. It mandates that patients provide their registry card and a physician's note documenting the need, while prohibiting smoking or vaping on-site. Facilities must establish policies for administration and storage but are not required to procure or administer cannabis. This applies only to patients with a terminal condition (life expectancy under one year) and excludes emergency departments. The bill does not override federal enforcement actions against facilities that comply with federal law.