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Kansas is taking steps to give parents more control over medical decisions about life-extending care for their disabled or critically ill children with a new law that supporters hope becomes a model for other states. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill Friday that will prevent hospitals and physicians from instituting do-not-resuscitate orders or similar directives for children if one parent objects. The new law takes effect July 1. (Hanna, 4/7)

A bill allowing out-of-state insurance carriers to sell plans in Oklahoma will be heard in committee next week. The House author of Senate Bill 478 said his measure would give Oklahoma residents a chance to buy less expensive health insurance, but opponents have criticized the fact that those policies might not have the coverage mandates consumers need or expect. (Denwalt, 4/9)

A program to rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking may finally receive funding under a proposal added to the Texas House budget late last week. The proposal by state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, would reroute $3 million from the governor’s homeland security budget and direct it to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to help trafficking victims receive “necessary services,” though it does not specify which ones. (Walters, 4/10)

Alarmed by suicide rates persistently among the highest in the nation, Montana lawmakers moved closer Saturday to sending legislation to Gov. Steve Bullock authorizing $1 million to address a crisis that has long vexed public health officials, veterans groups, tribal leaders and other communities across the state. (Calvan, 4/9)