This bill appropriates $35.6 million to Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare for public health services in fiscal year 2027, while simultaneously reducing funding for laboratory services and health care policy initiatives. It also decreases the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions by three and mandates several reports on program outcomes, vaccine utilization, and immigration status for HIV prevention services. Although the bill was signed by the President, the Governor exercised a line-item veto on the section reducing funds for the Health Care Policy Initiatives Program.
This bill directs Idaho state funding from the Millennium Income Fund for fiscal year 2027 toward substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, with a specific focus on youth under 18 and high-risk adults. It appropriates $150,000 to support community-based recovery centers in several cities, defining these centers as nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost recovery services at least 25 hours per week. The legislation also clarifies that Millennium Fund money cannot be used for Medicaid claims and establishes oversight requirements, including quarterly funding distributions and mandatory reporting to ensure funds are used properly. Additionally, the bill provides extra funding to various state agencies for children's trust programs, drug policy initiatives, and youth assessment centers.
This bill appropriates and adjusts funding for Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare's behavioral health services for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directly affecting substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and psychiatric hospitalization programs. It allocates specific amounts from various state funds to personnel, operating expenses, and capital outlays for children's mental health, adult mental health, and state psychiatric hospitals, while also reducing certain appropriations from other designated funds. The legislation authorizes 15 additional full-time equivalent positions for the Division of Mental Health Services and allows those divisions to transfer money for personnel and benefit payments. Additionally, it requires the Department to submit a report on Idaho Behavioral Health Plan expenditures by December 1, 2026, and declares an emergency to make the funding changes effective immediately.
This bill establishes the Merit-Based Health Care Act in Idaho, which requires health care providers participating in Medicaid to base employment and contracting decisions on individual merit and professional qualifications rather than ideological or discriminatory practices. The law specifically prohibits the use of state Medicaid funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, bias training, or other policies that consider race or sex in hiring, promotion, or compensation decisions. Providers must comply with these requirements as a condition of their Medicaid agreements, and violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the size of the organization and the number of violations. The bill also includes a limited private right of action allowing health care professionals to sue if they face retaliation for refusing to participate in prohibited DEI conduct.
This bill appropriates specific funding amounts to Idaho's Medicaid program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, affecting the Department of Health and Welfare's Division of Medicaid. It allocates money from various state and federal funds to support different Medicaid plans, including Basic, Enhanced, Coordinated, and Expansion plans, as well as administrative costs and hospital assessments. The legislation also reduces certain appropriations from the Hospital Assessment Fund and other sources for these same programs during the covered periods. Once signed into law, the bill directs how these funds will be distributed and spent to cover Medicaid benefits and operational expenses for eligible Idaho residents.
This bill appropriates $30.7 million to the Department of Health and Welfare and $250,000 to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027 to fund assertive community treatment and peer support services. The funding comes from multiple sources, including the State-Directed Opioid Settlement Fund, the Idaho Millennium Income Fund, and federal cooperative welfare funds. The bill also allows the Department of Health and Welfare to transfer money freely between programs to support these services and permits up to $5.8 million of opioid settlement funds to be used for individuals with substance use or mental health issues who do not have opioid use disorder. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.
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 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.
H 591 repeals Idaho Code Section 31-3502, which previously defined eligibility criteria for financial assistance programs. This change directly affects individuals seeking state financial aid who would have been evaluated under the repealed law. The bill removes the existing eligibility rules but does not establish new requirements or programs. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, as declared an emergency.
Idaho's S 1331 reduces state funding for education programs in fiscal year 2026 by $22.3 million from the Public School Income Fund and transfers money to the General Fund. It directly affects public schools (teachers and student support), Idaho's universities (including Boise State, Idaho State, and the University of Idaho), community colleges, and education programs like medical residencies and career technical education. Key mechanisms include cutting specific budget line items (e.g., $5.4 million for Boise State University, $1.8 million for student administrators), reducing authorized staff positions, and reallocating funds. The bill declares an emergency to expedite these fiscal adjustments.
