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Committee backs H 776 to require 12-hour risk-history checks for infants; passes 12-4
Summary
The House Health & Welfare Committee voted 12 AYE and 4 NAY to send H 776 to the House floor. The bill instructs the Department of Health and Welfare to verify infant risk histories within 12 hours and assign highest priority if the risk is valid; multiple witnesses testified about a recent infant death and slow CPS response.
Rep. Steve Tanner (District 13) presented H 776 to the House Health & Welfare Committee on March 17, 2026. The bill would direct the Department of Health and Welfare to verify an infant's risk history within 12 hours and, when verified, assign the case the highest priority to protect infants whose parents have aggravated histories or other stipulated conditions. Rep. Healey moved to send the bill to the House floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
Multiple witnesses testified in support of H 776, describing a recent infant death and saying that Child Protective Services (CPS) had been slow to respond even when hospitals and foster parents provided documented safety concerns. Testifiers included foster parents, a hospital social worker, a psychologist, a registered nurse/family nurse practitioner, an adoptive parent and a Boise County deputy; the minutes note concerns that families sometimes moved before warrants could be issued. Rep. Stone requested a roll call; the motion carried 12 AYE, 4 NAY. Those recorded voting in favor were Reps. Vander Woude, Erickson, Healey, Redman, Wheeler, Beiswenger, Fuhriman, McCann, Stone, Tanner(13), Rubel and Egbert; Reps. Burgoyne, Cayler, Leavitt and Thompson voted in opposition.
Supporters told the committee that earlier verification and prioritization by the Department of Health and Welfare could help remove barriers for CPS workers and improve early intervention for families at risk. The committee minutes do not record any formal amendments or a recorded floor sponsor beyond Rep. Tanner being listed to sponsor the bill on the floor.
