Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding medical education programs supported by Idaho state funds and to provide for WWAMI program transition.

Idaho does not have its own state-run medical school, requiring partnerships to deliver medical education to Idaho students. This legislation removes the statutory requirement that Idaho participate in the University of Washington’s WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) medical education program. As a growing state with an aging population, Idaho requires more medical doctors, and when the Idaho Legislature recently passed a resolution to expand seats in WWAMI for Idaho students, the University of Washington was unable to meet this need, and also elected not to sign an amendment to the contract with Idaho, restricting the use of Idaho state funds for abortion. In place of WWAMI, this legislation requires the State Board of Education to designate at least two medical education programs within Idaho and adjacent mountain states for Idaho’s medical education students, starting with the incoming class of 2027-2028. Until then, Idaho medical education students entering or currently enrolled in the WWAMI program will continue to enjoy the current arrangement of state support for their medical education, through their completion of the four-year program.