(Feb. 16, 2026) – Today, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee heard Senate Bill 497. The legislation adds kratom to Schedule 1 of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and making conforming amendments to the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substance in the Criminal Code.
The committee also worked Senate Bill 271, which updates the income eligibility requirements for the state Children's Health Insurance Program. The committee amended the bill to set eligibility at 250 percent of the poverty level and to keep premiums at $50, creating a sliding scale based on per-child rather than per-family income.