Senate committee advances bill to ease assisted‑living regulations

BOISE — The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted Thursday to send Senate Bill 1102, the Idaho Residential Care or Assisted Living Act, to the Senate floor with a do‑pass recommendation after more than 30 minutes of discussion and public testimony.

Sen. Camille Blaylock, R‑District 11, who introduced the bill, told the committee the measure “seeks to address the over regulation of residential care and assisted living communities in Idaho,” and described three goals: make it easier for providers to open and expand communities, reduce operational burdens, and foster a partnership between the Department of Health and Welfare and providers.

The bill would: simplify licensing for new facilities and for existing providers opening additional buildings; allow certain life‑safety inspections to carry over after ownership changes; permit a licensed administrator to oversee up to three facilities under one license and to delegate day‑to‑day operational responsibilities to building managers; require scheduled licensing surveys for routine licensing (while preserving the department’s authority to conduct unannounced…