Topeka ? The chairwoman of the House Insurance Committee apologized Tuesday for her behavior during a public hearing, but she said three bills opposed by the insurance industry will not be considered by the committee.

Last week, Rep. Patricia Lightner, R-Overland Park, was criticized for cutting short testimony during a hearing on the bills, which would have required insurers to expand coverage for prescription birth control, the purchase of wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and some clinical trials.

When it came time for testimony on the birth control bill, Lightner shut down the meeting because she said the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, failed to provide a required impact statement on what the bill would cost insurance companies.

Several committee members said they didn’t even know about the law requiring an impact statement. Legislative staff members said the committee often has ignored the requirement or asked for it later in the process of considering a bill.

Tuesday, Lightner defended her call for the impact statements, but she apologized for her behavior, saying she had scheduled too many bills for the meeting and was trying to hurry the speakers to keep the meeting on time.

“I just wasn’t even thinking of the subject matter,” she said.

Though she apologized, she indicated the committee wasn’t going to vote on the bills.

On the bill requiring coverage of hair pieces, she said the committee was through with it, but she wouldn’t oppose supporters of the bill trying to place the requirement in another piece of legislation before the full House.

She said the clinical-trial bill probably would require a legislative study after the session.

On the contraceptive bill, she said, “I can’t imagine that is going to be done for the session.”

Jennifer McAdam, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, was upset with Lightner’s announcement.

“It’s unfair. This is a bill that is extremely important,” McAdam said.