# Idaho S 1256: BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED – Repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions relating to reports of medical authorities establishing blindness.

Idaho S 1256, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED – Repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions relating to reports of medical authorities establishing blindness., is a 2026 regular legislative session Senate bill sponsored by HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE; status signed, last action 2026-03-25 (Signed by Governor on 03/25/26 Session Law Chapter 123 Effective: 07/01/2026) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1256-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Idaho S 1256
- State: Idaho
- Session: 2026 regular legislative session
- Title: BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED – Repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions relating to reports of medical authorities establishing blindness.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-03-25, Signed by Governor on 03/25/26 Session Law Chapter 123 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Sponsor: HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (103 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Medical providers no longer file blindness reports: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Idaho repeals the blindness reporting rule. Medical providers no longer must file reports to establish blindness. State offices no longer have this statutory reporting process. The law creates no new programs or funding.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
- Cosponsor: Carl J. Bjerke (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jeff Ehlers (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-19 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 70 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 33 | 0 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-03-25: Signed by Governor on 03/25/26 Session Law Chapter 123 Effective: 07/01/2026
- 2026-03-24: Reported delivered to Governor at 3:45 p.m. on 03/23/26
- 2026-03-23: Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
- 2026-03-23: Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate (House)
- 2026-03-20: Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Returned From House Passed; referred to enrolling (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 70-0-0 (House)
- 2026-03-18: Read second time; Filed for Third Reading (House)
- 2026-03-17: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read First Time, Referred to Health & Welfare (House)
- 2026-02-24: Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2 (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time; filed for Third Reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/S1256.pdf)

## Related bills

- H 0939: HUNTING – Amends existing law regarding the use of certain technologies. (signed)
- H 0810: ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to provide certain physical presence requirements for state representatives and senators. (signed)
- S 1356: SINGLE COUNTYWIDE HIGHWAY DISTRICTS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the election of commissioners in certain single countywide highway dis… (signed)
- S 1359: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSK FRAUD PREVENTION ACT – Adds to existing law to establish the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act. (vetoed)
- S 1362: APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027. (signed)
- S 1448: MINORS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding material harmful to minors. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/S1256.pdf)

## Related
- [H 0939: HUNTING – Amends existing law regarding the use of certain technologies.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0939-2026)
- [H 0810: ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to provide certain physical presence requiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0810-2026)
- [S 1356: SINGLE COUNTYWIDE HIGHWAY DISTRICTS – Amends existing law to revise provisions…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1356-2026)
- [S 1359: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSK FRAUD PREVENTION ACT – Adds to existing law to establish…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1359-2026)
- [S 1362: APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Sc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1362-2026)
- [S 1448: MINORS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding material harmful to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1448-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1256-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).