Senate committee agrees to seek amendments to bill that would limit public health districts' powers

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1031 to the fourteenth order for possible amendment after extended debate over language that would narrow the authority of local public health districts.

Senator Brian Lenny, sponsor of the bill and a senator representing Nampa (Idaho Legislative District 13), told the committee the measure would replace language that allows health districts to do “all things” for preservation and protection of public health with a standard limiting action to those that are “necessary and reasonable” and are “specifically authorized by state law.” Lenny said the intent is to require that measures be “rooted in statute, in science, and in necessity.”

Supporters and opponents traded questions and examples during roughly 36 minutes of discussion. Senator Wintrow and others…