Friday, January 20, 2023

Entering The 2023 Legislative Session


Following the House of Delegates and entering the 2023 Legislative Session, the top priority of the Lobby Team has been ensuring access to women’s healthcare. While the Lobby Team is working to create legal certainty for providers in Idaho, we anticipated a laundry list of legislation, including efforts to make it even more strict.

No Funds for Abortion Act


Last summer, in an effort to limit the impact of the United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, the Boise City Council passed a resolution to provide for enforcement limitations regarding bans of certain reproductive health services.

Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) introduced HB 2, No Funds for Abortion Act, largely focused on responding to the Boise City Council resolution. HB 2 punishes cities and counties that fail to enforce Idaho law relating to abortion and requires the Idaho State Tax Commission to withhold tax revenue if officials are found to violate the law. 

 

Additionally, Rep. Skaug’s legislation clarifies confusion regarding the term “promote” used in the original bill.  Fear grew last summer when many in education were concerned that they could be in legal trouble when having a classroom discussion on the topic of abortion. The amended language provides clarity and allows discussions to take place in schools, colleges, or universities.

 

HB 2 moved quickly through the House State Affairs Committee and now awaits its third reading on the House floor. 


Multiple Attempts by Senator Herndon (R-Sagle)


Sen. Herndon made national news this summer when he proposed an amendment to the Idaho GOP platform, criminalizing abortion in all situations, including when the health and life of the mother is at risk.

While it’s a difficult bar to reach, Idaho’s Trigger law provides an exception for abortion in the cases for rape and incest. Sen. Herndon’s first attempt the Senate State Affairs Committee, where he tried to introduce a bill removing the rape and incest exceptions from Idaho law. This attempt was quickly shot down by a motion to return to sponsor.

 

Shortly after, Sen. Herndon successfully introduced S 1002. In what he describes as an attempt to address legal concerns regarding ectopic pregnancies, S 1002 would change the legal definition of abortion from the intentional termination of a pregnancy to the intentional killing of a living human embryo or fetus in utero. S 1002 will be referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee.

GME Presentations in Joint Finance Appropriations Committee 


On Thursday, GME took center stage at JFAC, where the committee heard presentations from directors and leaders in their respected programs - Dr. Melissa "Moe" Hagman, Dr. Kristen Aaland, Dr. Patricia Howell-DelTufo, Dr. Dick McLandress, Dr. Benjamin Chan, and Dr. Elizabeth Botts. The Lobby Team appreciates your support and advocacy for this critical program.

Gov. Little has again prioritized GME. As discussed last week, the Governor’s budget requested $824k in GME funding - including $600k for 10 new medical residents (16 total new positions; 6 are fully federally funded) and an additional bump of $2k per resident funding increase for existing seats.

 

Thursday’s presentation highlighted the two new programs – Psychiatry in Idaho Falls and Pediatric in Treasure Valley. Along with the benefits these new programs will bring, the committee responded positively towards Idaho’s unique ability to retain students.

If you ever have any questions or need any advice, don't hesitate to touch base with us.


Mike Cunnington, Director of Government Affairs

(208) 344-7888

cunnington@idmed.org

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