Week 11

[Week 11] Legislative Update This Week’s Highlights:

🗝️Key Legislative Actions:

✔️STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 345: Medicaid Reform and Cost-Containment Act
**On 3/19/25 this bill was signed into law by the Governor** Idaho Parents Unlimited was present at this bill’s reading in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and provided testimony which sought clarification on different aspects of the bill. We heard assurances that the disability community would be at the table when discussing impacts and changes this bill will have for the community. This bill requires Idaho lawmakers to approve major Medicaid changes, such as moving to Managed Care, repealing and replacing rules including basic and enhanced plans. For children with disabilities, this could impact access to Medicaid services by introducing stricter eligibility reviews, potential cost-sharing for families, and changes in provider reimbursements. This could also have major effects on the Medicaid Expansion population.

✔️STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 291: Idaho High Needs Student Fund
**House Bill No.291 was read in the Senate Education Committee and sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation.** This bill establishes a fund to assist with costs related to students with disabilities who require substantial supports. The funding will be allocated to districts and charter schools through an application process overseen by the State Department of Education.

✔️STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 236: Denial of Attendance, Enrollment
**House Bill No.236, in its amended form, was read on the Senate floor and passed 35-0** This bill expands reasons for denying school enrollment or attendance to include: habitual truancy, continues disruptive behavior, behavior deemed detrimental to the health and safety of other students, possession of a dangerous weapon, or previous expulsion or disenrollment due to safety concerns. Requires parents or guardians to disclose a student’s relevant criminal history when seeking enrollment.

✔️FEDERAL– House GOP Budget Plan Looking to Make $800 Billion in Cuts
The House Republican budget plan directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find ways to cut the deficit by at least $880 billion over the next decade. While it doesn’t specifically name how those cuts will need to be made nor does it mention a specific program, advocates fear that these cuts cannot be achieved without primarily cutting Medicaid. Read more here: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/house-republican-budget-cuts-medicaid-billions
The Consortium for Idahoans (CID), some of its members, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, Idaho Parents Unlimited, Living Independence Network Corporation, LIFE, a Center for Independent Living, self-advocates, and family members along with Idaho Voices for Children and Children, hosted a “Protect Medicaid” event on the Capitol Steps March 20, 2025 to educate federal and state lawmakers about the importance of Medicaid and its role in keeping people living in their home and communities as independently as possible.

👫Get Involved!
You can use IPUL’s “Power of a Personal Story” template to craft testimony to share with legislators. Other testimony tips can be found in the padlet as well. You will find all our tips at this link https://shorturl.at/kSLOf

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