SB 958 Summary

• Minors under 18 lose physician-patient and psychotherapist-patient privilege and cannot prevent disclosure of confidential communications to their parents or legal guardians.

• Parents and legal guardians gain the right to be present during health professional consultations with their minor children and access medical records within a reasonable time at reasonable cost, except when child abuse, neglect, or battery is alleged.

• Licensed professional counselors and behavioral practitioners must obtain parental consent before disclosing minor client information, except regarding crimes or when child victim status is documented.

• Minors' self-consent to health services is narrowed; parental consent generally required except for specific conditions (emancipation, pregnancy, communicable disease, drug abuse, emergency services, or sexual assault), with explicit prohibition on abortion-related services without parental involvement.

• Attorney General may bring suit for violations and recover declaratory relief, injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees; sovereign and qualified immunities are waived for claims under this act; effective November 1, 2025.