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IdahoS 14532026 regular legislative sessionSenate

APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – RURAL HEALTH – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for rural health care for fiscal year 2027.

Sponsored By: FINANCE COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

APPROPRIATIONS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More funding for Idaho rural health

The law funds rural health work in Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Indirect Support Services. For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, it provides $3.7376 million: $264,300 for staff, $3.4445 million for operations, and $28,800 for capital costs. For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, it provides $295.4052 million: $1.3287 million for staff and $294.0765 million for operations. Both appropriations come from the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and add to the appropriation in Chapter 209, Laws of 2025. The department gets 12 additional full-time-equivalent positions for each stated fiscal year, not 24 ongoing positions. The 2026 funding and staffing provisions took effect upon passage and approval; the 2027 provisions take effect July 1, 2026. This funding supports the program, rather than direct payments to households.

New oversight for Idaho rural health

Effective upon passage and approval, the law creates the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program and a state fund for federal grants. Money is limited to federally approved program purposes; spending requires legislative appropriation on the committee’s recommendation. Fund receipts and spending must be reported publicly and to the legislature each year. A nine-member committee oversees the program: four senators, four representatives, and one nonvoting governor appointee. One senator and one representative serve as cochairs. Legislative members serve for their elected terms, may be reappointed, and have vacancies filled by the appointing authority. The committee sets its governing rules, grant requirements, and application scoring rules for the first award year. It must set grant requirements and scoring rules by September 30 for each of the four remaining award years. It works with the department on faster award reviews that follow federally approved timelines. The department must provide updates on projects, spending, and results at least quarterly. The committee evaluates likely and actual results, requires plans to keep funded work going, and recommends actions within Idaho’s federally approved plan. It has secure access to all award data and remains active until all fund money is appropriated and spent. The law also states legislative intent to continue planned reforms for physician assistants and dental hygienists. The department must report prior-year progress and remaining steps to the legislature’s joint budget committee and relevant policy committees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • FINANCE COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Kevin Cook

    Republican • Senate

  • Steve Miller

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 66 • No: 35

House vote • 4/2/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 46 • No: 20

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 20 • No: 15

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor on 04/10/26 Session Law Chapter 313 Effective: 04/10/2026 SECTION 1-3; 07/01/2026 SECTION 4-6

    4/2/2026

  2. Reported delivered to Governor at 5 p.m. on 04/02/26

    4/2/2026

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

    4/2/2026

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

    4/2/2026House

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

    4/2/2026Senate

  6. Returned From House Passed; referred to enrolling

    4/2/2026Senate

  7. Rules Suspended: Ayes 62 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 8, read in full as required – PASSED - 46-20-4

    4/2/2026House

  8. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    4/2/2026House

  9. Read First Time, Filed for Second Reading

    4/1/2026House

  10. Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading

    4/1/2026House

  11. Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – Read third time in full – PASSED - 20-15-0

    4/1/2026Senate

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

    4/1/2026Senate

  13. Reported Printed; referred to Finance

    4/1/2026Senate

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

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

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