Committee introduces RS31857, a measure to bar government mask mandates with health-worker exemptions

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee introduced RS31857, a measure the sponsor said would prohibit government officials from imposing mask mandates to prevent transmission of viruses and infectious diseases, while exempting some health-care and occupational safety uses.

Representative Beiswinger (transcript spelling varies) told the committee the bill previously passed in committee but failed in the Senate. He described the measure as simple and said it would prohibit mask mandates intended to prevent disease transmission, while allowing exemptions for health-care settings and for workers who need masks for safety, such as welders or concrete workers.

Representative Kiely said he was concerned the draft goes beyond “guardrails” and constitutes an outright prohibition; he asked that medical and public-health professionals be invited to the hearing when the measure next appears so the committee can hear their perspectives. Chairman Crane said sponsors may invite such witnesses and they are welcome at hearings.

Representative Palmer moved to introduce RS31857 for committee consideration; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

The sponsor said the bill is expected to have broad support in the state; no public commenters or outside experts are recorded as appearing at this meeting. The committee did not adopt any amendments or set a date for the next hearing during the recorded discussion.