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Senate committee agrees to print 'Idaho Medical Freedom Act' language that would bar many medical‑mandate requirements
Summary
Sen. Dan Foreman introduced RS31876, renaming and broadening the existing coronavirus statute to prohibit mandates for "medical interventions" in schools, businesses and governments; the committee voted to send the draft to print amid questions about definitions and scope.
Senator Dan Foreman, District 6, presented RS31876 to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, proposing to replace the existing "coronavirus stop act" with the "Idaho Medical Freedom Act" and to broaden the law from a coronavirus‑specific prohibition to a ban on many forms of required medical interventions.
Foreman defined the bill's terminology on the floor: the draft replaces references to the coronavirus with the term "medical intervention," which he described as "any pharmaceutical or biological agent or product designed to alter or restrict the biological functioning of the human body." The proposal would bar public, private and parochial preschools, K‑12 schools, postsecondary institutions and other educational entities from requiring a medical intervention as a condition of attendance, campus entry or employment. It would also bar businesses from requiring a medical intervention as a term of employment except where federal law requires it for travel to foreign jurisdictions, and would prohibit state, county or local governments from conditioning government benefits or services on a person's receipt or use of a medical intervention.
"The decision as to what a citizen puts into his or her body involves a personal choice that should be made free from undue outside influence or intimidation," Foreman said as he asked for the committee's affirmative vote to send the RS to print.
Senator Wintrow said she would support printing the bill for a full hearing but flagged substantive questions she intends to raise, including the scope of the restrictions on businesses and the statutory definition of "medical intervention." Wintrow said she needed time to read the draft before taking a position beyond supporting a print hearing.
Senator Lenny moved to send RS31876 to print; Senator Zietefeld seconded. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote.
Why it matters: If enacted as described in the RS, the bill would significantly limit the authority of employers, schools and local governments in Idaho to require vaccines or other medical treatments as conditions for employment, attendance or receipt of services, with limited exceptions for federal law.
Next steps: RS31876 was sent to print for introduction and will be scheduled for a public hearing and subsequent committee consideration where members indicated they will question definitions and scope.
Votes at a glance: Motion to send RS31876 to print — mover: Senator Lenny; second: Senator Zietefeld; outcome: approved (voice vote).
