2026 Regular Session
HB4421
Children; Leo's Law; abuse and neglect; safety analysis; drug screening; Department of Human Services; law enforcement agency; rules; court; providing exception; Child Welfare Fentanyl Testing Revolving Fund; purpose; annual audit; annual report; child endangerment; definition; fines and penalties; defense; codification; effective date.
Legislative progress
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This summary includes only completed milestones supported by recorded actions. It does not predict the next step, and it preserves later committee reassignments, concurrence, conference, veto, and approval actions when they occur.
Partner positions
Dislikes
Upon a "report"? Allows for agency overreach and abuse like we already have with DHS.
HB 4421 expands drug testing, redefines child endangerment, and increases coordination between DHS and law enforcement. While aimed at addressing fentanyl exposure, it raises serious concerns about overreach, due process, and broad definitions that could impact families without clear evidence of harm. This is not just about fentanyl. It’s about: Expanding DHS authority Increasing law enforcement involvement Lowering the threshold for intervention The key question: Are we targeting real danger—or widening the net on families? Questions How is child endangerment defined in this bill? Does drug presence automatically trigger removal or charges? What safeguards prevent: False positives? Environmental exposure misclassification? At what point does law enforcement become involved? What due process protections exist for parents? How is the revolving fund structured—and what incentives does it create? How broad or narrow is the defense provision?
No public reasoning provided.
Recorded floor votes
4 roll calls are available for this bill. This record includes procedural and intermediate action as well as substantive final votes.
February 17, 2026 · House
House: Appropriations and Budget Committee: DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS
Passed
31 yea–0 nay
March 26, 2026 · House
House: THIRD READING
Passed ⭐ Substantive final action
91 yea–3 nay · 5 absent
April 7, 2026 · Senate
Senate: Judiciary Committee: DO PASS
Passed
7 yea–0 nay
April 22, 2026 · Senate
Senate: Appropriations Committee: DO PASS AMENDED
Passed
22 yea–0 nay
Committee referrals
April 7, 2026 · Senate
Appropriations
April 1, 2026 · Senate
Judiciary
February 3, 2026 · House
Appropriations and Budget
Instrument history
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This is the complete recorded action history in the current source package. Highlighted entries are marked as significant by the source. A roll-call link appears only when a vote-like action has one unambiguous same-day chamber vote.
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Senate Placed on General Order
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Senate Enacting clause stricken
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Senate Reported Do Pass as amended Appropriations committee; CR filed View roll call
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Senate Coauthored by Senator Prieto
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Senate Coauthored by Senator Gillespie
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Senate Referred to Appropriations
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Senate Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed View roll call
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Senate Second Reading referred to Judiciary Committee then to Appropriations Committee
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Senate Coauthored by Representative Turner
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Senate Coauthored by Representative Banning
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Senate Coauthored by Representative Williams
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Senate Coauthored by Representative Manger
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Senate First Reading
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House Engrossed, signed, to Senate
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House Referred for engrossment
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House Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 91 Nays: 3 View roll call
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House Title stricken
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House Amended by floor substitute
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House Authored by Senator Gollihare (principal Senate author)
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House Coauthored by Representative(s) Hefner, Provenzano, West (Josh)
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House General Order
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House CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Committee
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House Second Reading referred to Appropriations and Budget
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House Authored by Representative Hilbert
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House First Reading