Medical-freedom bill sparks heated testimony over IRIS registry, emergency care and preemption

Representative Rob Bieswanger, sponsor of House Bill 808, said the bill would make medical decisions "personal, private and confidential," prohibit local governments from imposing vaccine mandates and convert the state's immunization registry (IRIS) from opt-out to opt-in. "This bill will take the words in regards to school and daycare language...and just say they're voluntary," Bieswanger said, framing the measure as building on last year's Medical Freedom Act.

Opponents included school nurses, a pediatrician and an insurer who said the bill's language could have unintended consequences. Michael Cain of ICRMP, which insures counties and first responders, warned that the bill's broad definition of "medical intervention" and its preemption language could prevent political subdivisions and public providers from advising or recommending care and could expose first responders to legal risk. "It also puts a target on my first responders," Cain said. Pediatrician David Peterman said immunization rates could fall and recalled treating a baby with fatal pertussis: "If this bill goes into place it is my belief the immunization rate will decrease in Idaho and we will put the children at risk for serious disease and unfortunately death." Multiple school nurses said converting IRIS to opt-in would make outbreak response slower and harder and urged the committee to vote no. Supporters of the bill, including health-freedom advocates and individuals who said they lost work over mandates, argued the measure protects individual choice; one proponent said the bill is needed because some local entities have not honored prior statewide exemptions. The committee paused HB808 testimony and will resume the next day.