IdahoIdaho parents may seek exemptions from child health requirements
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho parents and guardians may seek exemptions from child health and safety requirements based on beliefs or a doctor's certificate.
What it does
A child may be exempt from the chapter's requirements when a parent or guardian objects on religious, philosophical, conscientious, or other grounds.
A child may be exempt when a parent or guardian submits a state-licensed doctor's certificate saying that a chapter requirement would endanger the child's life or health.
Argument forParents could follow their beliefs, and a doctor could support an exemption when a requirement may endanger a child's life or health.
Argument againstChildren exempted from some or all requirements could miss protections those requirements provide for their health and safety.
More detail
A parent or guardian may object to the chapter's requirements on religious, philosophical, conscientious, or other grounds. It applies to a child whose parent or guardian makes the objection. This law takes effect July 1, 2026.
A parent or guardian may submit a physician's certificate to support an exemption. It applies to a child whose parent or guardian submits the certificate. The certificate must be signed by a physician licensed by the state board of medicine and say that some or all chapter requirements would endanger the child's life or health. This law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Signed by Governor Brad Little on 03/27/26 Session Law Chapter 199 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 26Reported delivered to Governor at 11:16 a.m. on 03/26/26To Governor
- Mar 26Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 25Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 24Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Read 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, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - HealeyTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 23Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 3Read First Time, Referred to Health & WelfareMinor
- Mar 3Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 2Read 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 HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 20Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Feb 17Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
- Feb 16Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
Healthcare