This bill clarifies that Idaho chiropractors with clinical nutrition certification may prescribe specific non-controlled medications, including certain vitamins (A, B complex, C), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc), fluids (saline, dextrose), epinephrine, and oxygen for emergencies. It specifies these drugs must be obtained from licensed sources and administered via approved routes, while prohibiting chiropractors from compounding vitamins/minerals themselves. The law directly affects certified chiropractors in Idaho, allowing them to prescribe these items during practice without altering existing non-prescription supplement use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing unanimously in the Idaho Senate.
Idaho's H 648 requires health benefit plans covering FDA-approved anticancer medications to treat oral and injected drugs equally for cost-sharing (like copays and deductibles) starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects health insurance plans sold in Idaho that cover anticancer medications, ensuring patients pay the same out-of-pocket costs regardless of whether their medication is taken orally or administered via injection. The bill does not prevent insurers from using formularies, prior authorization, or other standard coverage controls. It specifically applies to medications approved by the FDA for cancer treatment, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026, for implementation.
This bill requires all infants and newborns in Idaho to be screened for hearing loss before leaving a hospital, health care facility, or birthing facility. For births outside these settings, screening must occur within 21 days of birth. The screening must use approved methods (like otoacoustic emissions) and results must be reported to the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind (IESDB) within seven days. The law is contingent on maintaining federal funding for these screenings, and would not take effect if federal support ends and state costs increase.
This bill creates a Medicaid exemption from prior approval requirements for healthcare providers who mentor medical students. Practitioners in family medicine, psychiatry, or OB/GYN qualify if they provide 360+ hours of preceptorship (with 60% in rural/underserved areas) to graduate students at Idaho institutions. Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare verifies hours and grants a 12-month exemption starting the next calendar year. The exemption is limited to 100 providers per specialty annually and may be revoked if claims fail risk-based quality reviews.
H 793 revises Idaho's beer excise tax revenue distribution, affecting state funds and the beer industry. It increases the portion of low-alcohol beer tax revenue (≤5% ABV) going to the substance abuse treatment fund from 12% to 20%, while allocating 33% to the Idaho law enforcement fund (with 60% dedicated to the Project Choice program) and the remainder to the general fund. For high-alcohol beer (>5% ABV), it temporarily adjusts funding to hop growers and wine producers (1.5%/3.5% in 2022-2023, rising to 5%/1.5% permanently from 2024), with the rest going to the general fund. The bill removes obsolete language and takes effect July 1, 2026.
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.
This bill formally approves most temporary and pending rules from the Idaho Department of Insurance and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for the 2026 legislative session. The House Business Committee reviewed these rules and approved them with one exception: the Building Safety rules (IDAPA 24.39.30) were not approved. Additionally, the bill allows one specific pending rule regarding short-term health insurance coverage to become effective at the end of the legislative session. This procedural measure streamlines the legislative review process for administrative rules without changing the actual content of the regulations themselves.
H 724 establishes specific safety rights for children in Idaho foster care, including the right to a safe environment, freedom from abuse, timely medical assessments, and consideration of safety during placement changes. The bill requires the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to provide a written notice of these rights to each child at initial placement, placement changes, and annually, with foster homes required to post the notice. These rights must be addressed within existing court proceedings for foster care cases but do not create new legal claims or enforcement mechanisms. The law aims to ensure foster children’s safety through clear, accessible protections already integrated into current foster care processes.
This bill changes how Idaho pays counties for housing state prisoners in county jails. Counties will now receive $80 per day for the first seven days of each inmate's stay (up from $55), then $75 daily thereafter. The state must also cover all medical/dental costs for these inmates, and counties must bill the state every 60 days with payment due within 60 days. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, as an emergency measure.
This bill creates the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and establishes a Rural Health Transformation Committee to manage federal grant money for rural health initiatives. The fund will receive money from federal grants and can only be used for purposes approved by the federal government, with all spending subject to annual public reporting. The nine-member committee includes legislative members from both chambers and a nonvoting member from the governor's office, and it will oversee how funds are distributed, evaluate program success, and ensure sustainability plans are in place for funded projects. The committee must report quarterly progress updates to the Department of Health and Welfare and can recommend fund usage to the legislature within federal guidelines.
