All Roll Calls
Yes: 89 • No: 16
IdahoS 13142026 regular legislative sessionSenateWALLET
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE – Amends and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding the Board of Health and Welfare, substate administrative regions, and regional behavioral health boards.
Sponsored By: HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Regional centers expand mental health services
Regional behavioral health centers must provide or arrange many services. These include psychiatric care, medication management, rehab and community services, outpatient and intensive care, assertive community treatment, case management, and residential care. Centers deliver these for people without other benefits as resources allow, and handle emergencies, hospital pre- and post-care, court-ordered treatment, and help for mental health courts. Family support and recovery services shift to a regional board only after it meets readiness rules and accepts that duty. The director appoints an administrator and sets uniform treatment standards and staff qualifications to keep care consistent.
State oversight and new behavioral health council
The Department of Health and Welfare is the state behavioral health authority. It works with a new State Behavioral Health Planning Council and regional boards. The council includes consumers, families, advocates, courts, schools, and more, and no more than half its members are state employees or providers. Members serve two-year terms, and the governor names the chair and vice-chair. The department must coordinate regional centers, regional boards, and state hospitals, and report each year on service use, outcomes, and quality.
New local regions for state services
The governor can set up smaller state regions to improve access to health and social services. Each region has a regional director appointed by the department with the board’s concurrence. Regions are drawn with geographic and economic convenience in mind to bring services closer to communities.
Department now writes health and welfare rules
The department now writes and updates most health and welfare rules; environmental rulemaking stays separate. Existing rules keep working until the department or legislature changes them. The department sets up divisions and appoints division administrators and new bureau chiefs. Voting members of the Board of Health and Welfare need Senate confirmation. The old statute that created the board is repealed, reflecting this restructuring.
Old regional behavioral health laws repealed
Several older behavioral health statutes are repealed, including sections 39-3124 and 39-3132 through 39-3135. These repeals remove outdated rules as the department and regional framework take over. The text does not describe direct changes to your services or costs.
Updated public health definitions and terms
The law updates many public health definitions, like biological agent, isolation, quarantine, laboratory, and public swimming pool. Agencies now use these updated meanings in Chapter 56. This is an organizational change and does not add or cut benefits by itself.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Camille Blaylock
Republican • Senate
John Vander Woude
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/10/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 61 • No: 9
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 28 • No: 7
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor on 03/16/26 Session Law Chapter 25 Effective: 03/16/2026
3/17/2026Reported delivered to Governor at 4:55 p.m. on 03/12/26
3/13/2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
3/12/2026HouseReported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
3/11/2026SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 61-9-0
3/10/2026HouseU.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
3/9/2026HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/6/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/5/2026HouseReceived from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
3/3/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 28-7-0
3/2/2026SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
2/23/2026SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
2/20/2026SenateReported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
2/17/2026SenateIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
2/16/2026Senate
Bill Text
Bill Text
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