The bills would require doctors to begin testing all young children for lead poisoning during appointments—starting at 12 months old.
Current policy only requires testing for kids on Medicaid.
Democratic Senator John Cherry co-sponsored the package. He says expanding testing and reporting would help catch exposure sooner.
“Because we don’t just want to catch lead exposure once the kid’s already been exposed. But if we can prevent it on the front end … that’s where the ultimate goal is.”
Critics of the legislation say it would put too many requirements on doctor’s visits.