Health department bill to repeal obsolete code sections cleared by committee

House Bill 91, carried in committee by Alex Adams, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, would repeal approximately 150 obsolete or unused sections of state law that the department identified as no longer operative.

Adams told the committee the deletions cover long-unused committees and grants and cited examples such as laws that require advertising in newspapers about adulterated oils. He described the package as a decluttering exercise and said the department posted the proposed deletions publicly and to lobbyists before the House hearing.

"We have 150 sections that we identified as obsolete," Adams said. "There is no fiscal impact; this was truly deadweight code." He described the effort as aligning state law with current practice and earlier requirements that agencies identify obsolete code.

Several senators asked whether removing specific sections could inadvertently eliminate needed authority. Senator Wintrow asked about assisted-living inspection and licensing code; Adams said recent, separate legislation and a companion bill adjusted that statutory language and the department coordinated the bills to avoid removing sections that now have current effect.

Adams said the department used a careful review process and worked with the House sponsor to make sure no necessary authority would be lost. "This changes nothing," he said, describing the package as harmonization and decluttering rather than a policy change.

Senator Harris moved to send HB 91 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the bill.

The department testified the bill would produce no fiscal impact and would not change service delivery; it removes statutory language that the department and staff consider obsolete.