H5296 • 2025

An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids

Children

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Sponsor: Badger, Michelle L.
Last action: 2026-03-23
Official status: Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids

An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids By Representatives Badger of Plymouth and LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michelle L.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids By Representatives Badger of Plymouth and LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michelle L.
Badger relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids.
Public Health.
Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-23 Senate
Senate concurred
2026-01-20 House
Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Public Health
2026-01-08 House
Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids
By Representatives Badger of Plymouth and LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michelle L. Badger relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids. Public Health.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.5296

Section 1 of Chapter 111G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following definitions:-

"Substance-Exposed Newborn", a newborn who was exposed to alcohol or other drugs ingested by the mother in utero, whether or not this exposure is detected at birth through a drug screen or withdrawal symptoms.

"Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome", symptoms and signs exhibited by a newborn due to drug withdrawal, the term used to represent the pattern of effects that are associated with opioid withdrawal in newborns.

Section 2 of Chapter 111G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

The department shall review and revise the early intervention operational standards to ensure that children under the age of 3, who are diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and children under the age of 3, who meet the definition of substance-exposed newborns, are deemed categorically eligible for early intervention services until the child's third birthday.

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