On Wednesday, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee moved SB207 forward. This bill modifies laws related to initiative and referendum petitions, requiring canvassers to inform potential petitioners that petition fraud is classified as a class A misdemeanor.

The House also passed several bills related to teacher retirement. HB1161 allows members to purchase partial years of gap-year service credit, which was previously not permitted. HB1156 reduces the waiting period for a new spouse to become eligible for survivor benefits from two years before the member’s death to one year.

Additionally, the House passed HB1258, which creates the Community Health Worker Act and establishes a statewide certification for community health workers. SB137 was also passed, enabling healthcare providers to store medical records electronically. SB50 was approved, calling for a legislative study on workforce and social services reform.

The House also passed SB213, the Senate version of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program, which includes a $45.3 million investment to expand healthcare access for pregnant women. The House had passed an identical version of this bill the previous week.

The House will reconvene on Thursday at 11 a.m.