Idaho Senate advances child-welfare, school-device and public-works changes; several bills referred to committees

The Idaho Senate on Feb. 11 passed Senate Bill 10 21, a Health and Welfare Committee bill that removes a court-ordered extra post-termination hearing in certain adoptions from the custody of the Department of Health and Welfare, and approved Senate Bill 10 32, an Education Committee measure asking school districts to assess and adopt local "distraction-free" mobile-device policies by the end of the 2025 school year. The chamber also approved House Bills 50, 52 and 56 to update administrative dollar thresholds in public-works procedures and referred dozens of bills to committee for further consideration.

The measures seek to shorten delays in permanency for children and give local school districts control over mobile-device rules, while the public-works bills adjust bid and delegation thresholds to reflect inflation and higher construction costs.

Senator Shippey, who opened debate on SB 10 21, said the bill "improves the child welfare system by helping children obtain permanency quicker. Permanency is the overriding goal of the child welfare system, whether it be successful reunification with biological parents or finding a suitable adoptive home." Shippey told colleagues the bill responds to a 2020 Idaho Supreme Court decision interpreting section 16-2005 that had required an additional hearing after parental-rights termination in some cases; the bill amends the…