TallyIDAHOLegislative Tracker
H00592025 Regular Session Signed into law

Adds to existing law to establish the Medical Ethics Defense Act.

MEDICAL ETHICS DEFENSE ACT -- Adds to existing law to establish the Medical Ethics Defense Act.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted
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The Medical Ethics Defense Act protects the conscience rights of healthcare professionals and healthcare entities. It protects them from being forced to participate in non-emergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. Healthcare professionals should not be forced to violate their oath to "do no harm." This bill protects healthcare professionals from discrimination when they exercise their rights of conscience. It also enhances patient care by protecting them from discrimination when they report violations of the law or exercise their constitutionally protected free speech rights. The Act is intended to supersede other provisions of Idaho law that are less protective of rights of conscience

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This legislation causes no increase or decrease in revenue, or additional expenditure of funds at the state or local level of government; therefore, this legislation has no fiscal impact.

house Chamber· Feb 10, 2025

House Third Reading

Passed
58 Yea
11 Nay
1 absentPassed by 47 votes
Republican
58 yea/2 nay
Democrat
0 yea/9 nay
Show all 69 voter names

ABSENT / NOT VOTING (1)

house Chamber· Mar 12, 2025

House Third Reading

Passed
58 Yea
9 Nay
3 absentPassed by 49 votes
Republican
58 yea/0 nay
Democrat
0 yea/9 nay
Show all 67 voter names

Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2025 Session Law Chapter 101 Effective: 03/19/2025