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Bill

HB 399

EMTs; authorize those with law enforcement agency special teams to perform certain advanced medical procedures.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Randy Rushing

Bill authorizes EMTs working with law enforcement special teams to perform advanced medical procedures beyond standard scope of practice.

Referred To Public Health and Human Services
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Bill Summary · HB 399

Legislative bill overview

HB 399 authorizes Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who work with law enforcement agency special teams to perform certain advanced medical procedures beyond standard EMT scope of practice. The bill specifically allows these specialized EMTs to expand their medical capabilities while operating under law enforcement jurisdiction, likely to improve emergency response on tactical operations.

Why is this important

Tactical situations involving law enforcement special teams (SWAT, hostage rescue, etc.) often occur in remote locations or high-risk environments where immediate advanced medical care is critical. Enabling EMTs embedded with these teams to perform advanced procedures could reduce response times and improve survival rates for both officers and civilians in these dangerous scenarios. However, this creates a parallel medical training pathway outside traditional hospital-based paramedic systems.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope creep and oversight: The bill doesn't specify which "certain advanced medical procedures" are authorized, raising questions about regulatory clarity and whether EMTs receive adequate training for procedures normally requiring paramedic certification
  • Liability and accountability: Expanding medical authority within law enforcement creates potential conflicts between medical standards and tactical command decisions, complicating liability and professional oversight
  • Training standardization: Different law enforcement agencies may implement varying training standards, creating inconsistency in care quality and professional accountability across the state

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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