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House passes Medical Ethics Defense Act after floor debate; 58-11-1
Summary
The Idaho House passed House Bill 59, the Medical Ethics Defense Act, which creates conscience protections for health-care professionals and entities and establishes a private right of action and whistleblower protections. The measure passed 58-11-1.
The Idaho House of Representatives passed House Bill 59, the Medical Ethics Defense Act, on Feb. 11, 2025, after floor remarks from the bill’s sponsor and a roll-call vote that ended 58 in favor, 11 opposed and 1 absent.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Cindy Hart, told the House the measure “protects the conscience rights of health care professionals and entities” and said it shields providers from being “forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious, moral, and ethical beliefs.”
Hart described the bill as providing both whistleblower protections and a private right of civil action, saying it “allows damages to match the harm and reasonable attorney fees” and that it applies to “practices, not people.” She listed procedures and practices that, she said, have raised conscience concerns among providers, including assisted suicide, certain prescriptions and gene-editing interventions.
During her presentation, Hart said the bill “supersedes previous legislation and federal laws but does not preempt those that are already on the books,” and that versions of similar laws have been enacted in other states. She said the measure was drafted after consultations with stakeholders and included provisions she described as employer protections to prevent abuse.
Floor debate on the bill was limited; the House proceeded to a roll call after remarks. Clerk calls recorded the vote as 58 ayes, 11 nays and 1 absent. House Bill 59 passed the House and, per routine, will be transmitted to the Senate.
Supporters on the floor emphasized conscience protections and whistleblower remedies; opponents recorded in the roll call opposed the bill but no extended exchange or amendment was entered into the House record during the floor action.
The bill’s text as presented on the floor includes a private right of action, injunctive relief and attorney-fee provisions, and references to protecting employees and employers from certain outlier situations, according to the sponsor’s remarks.
House action on HB 59 was a formal passage vote; further consideration, including any Senate action or changes, will determine the measure’s final status.
