Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1179 amends Section 39-912, Idaho Code, to expand exemptions to the state’s newborn medical screening requirements. The bill allows parents or guardians to exempt their child from mandatory newborn screenings not only on the basis of religious belief, but also for reasons of conscience or philosophical objection. It also permits a licensed physician to issue a medical exemption if the screening is determined to pose a danger to the child’s life or health. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:
S1179 strengthens parental rights by reaffirming that the state does not have the authority to mandate medical procedures on children over the objections of their parents. By broadening exemptions to include conscientious and philosophical beliefs—not just religious affiliation—it reinforces the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s core principles of medical freedom, limited government, and family sovereignty. The bill also respects professional medical judgment by allowing exemptions when screening would pose a risk to the child. It clearly advances liberty, individual responsibility, and opposition to government overreach, earning a positive rating.