The hearing on SB448 was opened.
Dahnika Short, Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of SB448 (Attachment 6).
Senator William Clifford, Kansas Senate, provided testimony in support of SB448 (Attachment 7). It was noted that only Kansas and South Dakota are currently the only states lacking this authority. Senator Clifford noted that in his practice as an ophthalmologist he weekly encounters patients with eye infections attributed to diseases such as Chlamydia. Sexual partners of these patients all too often refuse care or do not seek care. The net effect is recurrence occurs even though the patient has been treated. SB448 provides the legal tool to provide a second prescription, with appropriate educational material and warning about drug allergies, to the patient.
Senator Clifford responded to questions from the committee.
Ashley Goss, Deputy Secretary, Division of Public Health, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, provided testimony in support of SB448 (Attachment 8) . Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is the clinical practice of treating partners of patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STI) by allowing health care providers to prescribe or provide medication to the patient for their partner without first conducting a physical examination of that partner. Reported cases of chlamydia numbered 10,884 in 2025. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious complications. 2,430 cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2025. Preventive treatment has long been recommended for all partners who are sexually exposed to the infected individual within a specific time frame. The medications used to treat these infections are safe, inexpensive oral antibiotics with few side effects of contraindications. SB448 offers a practical and effective approach to protecting the health of Kansans. A flier explaining expedited partner therapy was provided to the committee (Attachment 9).
Dr. Patrick Allen, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of SB448 (Attachment 10). Unfortunately, sexually transmitted infections are a common part of every primary care physician's practice. These infections can cause premature delivery, low birth weight newborns, and infections in the newborn. When infections are diagnosed every effort is made to treat not only the patient by also all recent sexual partners. EPT works, and it is safe. SB448 is a pro-life bill.
Dr. Tara Chettiar, Kansas Section Chair, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, provided testimony in support of SB448 (Attachment 11). The goal of EPT is to prevent reinfection with an STI by treating a partner that is unwilling or unable to seek medical care. Dr. Chettiar will frequently have to retest and occasionally retreat her patients due to reinfection from a partner that has not sought medical care. The passage of the bill will align medical treatment with nationally recognized standards and provide the best medical care possible for all Kansans.
Dr. Chettiar responded to questions from the committee.
The following provided written only proponent testimony:
Randy Bowman, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (Attachment 12)
Rachelle Colombo, Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society (Attachment 13)
Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health (Attachment 14)
Dr. Donna Sweet, Private Citizen (Attachment 15)
Charlie Hunt, Director, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Attachment 16)
Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 17)
Terrie Garrison/Dr. Allen Greiner, Unified Government Public Health Department (Attachment 18)
The hearing on SB448 was closed.