Committee advances 'Idaho Medical Freedom Act' after extended public testimony; schools and public-health officials urge caution

The Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-5, with two members absent, to send Senate Bill 1023, the "Idaho Medical Freedom Act," to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation after more than two hours of testimony from proponents and opponents.

Sponsor Representative Rob Bieswanger introduced the measure and deferred to Leslie Manoukian of the Health Freedom Defense Fund, who presented the bill and framed it as a restoration of "bodily autonomy." "The right to medical freedom is foundational to our nation," Manoukian said, arguing the bill would prevent employers, schools and businesses from conditioning employment, education or access to services on an individual's medical choices except in limited circumstances such as recognized occupational or vocational hazards.

Proponents included national- and state-level advocates who described experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic when they said local policies, employer mandates and business requirements infringed on individual medical…