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H 491 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

EMERGENCY FIRST AID – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding immunity of persons giving first aid from damage claims.

This bill (H 491) expands legal protection for people who provide emergency first aid without compensation. It ensures individuals offering good-faith first aid - including mental health or suicide crisis support - in accidents or emergencies cannot be sued for civil damages, unless proven grossly negligent. The immunity ends when care is transferred to a hospital, medical professional, or ambulance staff. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all Idaho residents receiving such aid.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands legal immunity for mental health crisis first aid providers, encouraging voluntary assistance without lawsuit risk and improving emergency mental health access.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Signed Mar 30, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House Jan 26, 2026

How they voted

34–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 36
Mar 23, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican30
28 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - LentTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-0-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould,
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.