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S 1316 Idaho Senate · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

HEALTH AND SAFETY – Amends existing law to revise provisions for exemptions for certain tests for infants and newborns.

This bill expands exemptions for newborn health screenings in Idaho. It allows parents or guardians to opt out based on religious, philosophical, or conscientious beliefs (previously only religious objections were permitted), or by providing a physician's certification that screenings would endanger the child's health. The change directly affects parents seeking exemptions for infants' required screenings under current law. It takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing unanimously in the Idaho Senate.
Issues: ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExpands exemptions for newborn screenings beyond religious objections, reducing mandatory health checks and limiting public health program compliance for infants.90% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 16, 2026 Signed Mar 30, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2026 · House Mar 24, 2026

How they voted

35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 2, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican29
29 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 70-0-0AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price,
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Bruner(Adams), 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 – NoneFloor Sponsor - KeyserTitle apvd - to House
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.