All Roll Calls
Yes: 24 • No: 6
IdahoS 12572026 regular legislative sessionSenate
CHILD PROTECTION – Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding visitation and termination of parental rights.
Sponsored By: HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
CHILD PROTECTION
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Broader grounds to end parental rights
The law expands when courts can end parental rights. If the Department files the case and has custody, a parent's incarceration can be a ground. It applies when the parent is jailed at the hearing and has been, or likely will be, jailed for a substantial part of the child's minority. In chapter 16 cases, judges must also weigh reunification efforts. They consider a parent's ability to live a law‑abiding life, not counting infractions. They consider if a child has a strong bond with a caretaker and removal would cause serious harm when the parent cannot meet the child's needs. Courts may also terminate if it is in both the parent's and child's best interest. A child's vaccination status alone cannot be the reason to terminate. These rules apply starting July 1, 2026.
When these child protection rules start
The law takes effect July 1, 2026. Courts, agencies, and families follow the new rules on that date.
Safer visitation rules after substantiated abuse
The law defines visitation as in-person, video, phone, or written contact. With a substantiated sexual or physical abuse claim, in-person visits stop unless a court finds them best for the child. If visits happen, the court must set safety rules. They include no being alone with the child. In sexual-abuse cases, no lap-sitting. No secret or unmonitorable messages. "Substantiated" can mean a worker saw the abuse or a court already found abuse. It can also be a confession, medical proof, or proof by a preponderance. These rules start July 1, 2026.
Show accommodations; no new state mandate
Parents with disabilities can show how adaptive equipment or services let them parent safely. The law defines adaptive equipment and supportive services, like training, device help, Braille texts, and sign‑language interpreters. The law does not require state or local government to buy or provide these items or services. These rules apply starting July 1, 2026.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Melissa Wintrow
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 24 • No: 6
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor on 03/25/26 Session Law Chapter 131 Effective: 07/01/2026
3/26/2026Reported delivered to Governor at 4:34 p.m. on 03/19/26
3/23/2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
3/19/2026HouseReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
3/18/2026SenateRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/17/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/16/2026HouseReceived from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
3/2/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 24-6-5
2/27/2026SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
2/20/2026SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
2/19/2026SenateReported Printed; referred to Judiciary & Rules
2/5/2026SenateIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
2/4/2026Senate
Bill Text
Bill Text
Related Bills
H 0889 — STATE PROCUREMENT – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law regarding the procurement of property by the State of Idaho.
S 1435 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – Relates to the maintenance appropriations to the Department of Health and Welfare and the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2027.
S 1429 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Behavioral Health Services Division for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
S 1410 — MEDICAID – Adds to existing law to provide legislative approval for the Department of Health and Welfare to submit a state plan amendment regarding change in encounter rate due to change in scope of services.
S 1439 — EDUCATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Model School Facility Council.
S 1433 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – MEDICAID – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.