Committee approves print hearing for measure that would bar medical‑intervention mandates statewide

Sen. Dan Foreman, senator from District 6, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee he is sponsoring RS31876, which would amend Title 73, Chapter 5 of Idaho law by replacing references to coronavirus‑specific mandates with a broader prohibition on "medical intervention" mandates. Foreman defined the proposed term to include "any pharmaceutical or biological agent or product designed to alter or restrict the biological functioning of the human body," and described the bill as renaming the existing Coronavirus Stop Act the "Idaho Medical Freedom Act."

Foreman said the proposal would prohibit public, private and parochial preschools through post‑secondary institutions from requiring a medical intervention as a condition of attendance, employment, or entering campus or school buildings. He also said the legislation would bar businesses conducting activity in Idaho from requiring a medical intervention as a term of employment, except where federal law requires it for travel to a foreign jurisdiction. Foreman told the committee: "the decision 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. In essence, that decision is a matter involving basic human rights."

Sen. Wintrow said she would support sending the RS to print but raised questions she intends to pursue at a hearing, including the scope of the restrictions on business entities and the definition of "medical intervention." She said she supports clarifying that routine vaccinations for contagious diseases (for example, polio) have an appropriate public‑health context. No committee member debated or amended the RS at this meeting.

Senator Lenny moved to send RS31876 to print and Senator Zieterfeld seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote and the RS will proceed to a print hearing and a full hearing for further testimony and detailed questions.