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IdahoS 13142026 regular legislative sessionSenate

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

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Behavioral health oversight shifts to state centers

The Department of Health and Welfare now centralizes behavioral health management. The director coordinates services between regional behavioral health centers and state psychiatric hospitals. A division administrator runs the regional centers and sets uniform care standards. Regional centers provide or arrange clinical care. Family and recovery supports come through regional boards, Medicaid, and private providers. Regional boards lose a guaranteed seat on the state planning council. The law also removes a takeover trigger for failing boards. Several legal sections that set board structures are repealed. These changes take effect immediately upon approval.

Board of Health and Welfare definition updated

The law shortens the legal definition of "Board" to "board of health and welfare." It removes the cross-reference to a numbered code section. This update changes how rules and notices refer to the Board.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Camille Blaylock

    Republican • Senate

  • John Vander Woude

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 89 • No: 16

House vote • 3/10/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 61 • No: 9

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 28 • No: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor on 03/16/26 Session Law Chapter 25 Effective: 03/16/2026

    3/17/2026

  2. Reported delivered to Governor at 4:55 p.m. on 03/12/26

    3/13/2026

  3. Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor

    3/12/2026

  4. Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate

    3/12/2026House

  5. Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker

    3/11/2026Senate

  6. Returned From House Passed; referred to enrolling

    3/10/2026Senate

  7. Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 61-9-0

    3/10/2026House

  8. U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day

    3/9/2026House

  9. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    3/6/2026House

  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    3/5/2026House

  11. Read First Time, Referred to Health & Welfare

    3/3/2026House

  12. Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading

    3/3/2026House

  13. Read third time in full – PASSED - 28-7-0

    3/2/2026Senate

  14. Read second time; filed for Third Reading

    2/23/2026Senate

  15. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

    2/20/2026Senate

  16. Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare

    2/17/2026Senate

  17. Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing

    2/16/2026Senate

Bill Text

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