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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho House Bill 978 Appropriates $35.6 Million to Public Health Services and Mandates Reports
Last action · April 2, 2026: Line item vetoed by Governor on April 10, 2026 Session Law Chapter 312 Effective: 07/01/2026 with the exception of line item veto in SECTION 3
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What This Bill Does
House Bill 978 appropriates $35,623,800 to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Public Health Services Division for 2027, reduces funding and staffing for specific programs, and requires detailed outcome reports by December 31, 2026.
The measure alters funding allocations and staffing levels for state health programs, directing $28.02 million specifically to the Idaho Immunization Dedicated Vaccine Fund while cutting personnel and operating funds in laboratory and health policy programs.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Health and Welfare
The department receives funding appropriations, experiences staffing and budget reductions in specific programs, and is mandated to submit multiple performance and demographic reports.
public health districts
Public health districts must collaborate on reports regarding HIV prevention outcomes and compile data on the documented immigration status of program participants.
Key Facts
- Appropriates a grand total of $35,623,800 to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Public Health Services Division for fiscal year 2027.
- Allocates $28,020,000 from the Idaho Immunization Dedicated Vaccine Fund for physical health services.
- Reduces the appropriation for the Laboratory Services Program by $78,400 for personnel costs from the Cooperative Welfare (Federal) Fund.
- Reduces the appropriation for the Health Care Policy Initiatives Program by a total of $478,600 across various funds.
Show all 10 facts
- Reduces the full-time equivalent (FTP) position authorization for the Public Health Services Division by three (3.00) positions.
- Requires the Department of Health and Welfare to submit a report on outcomes and return on investment for the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee by December 31, 2026.
- Requires a report on outcomes and return on investment for the HIV Prevention and Surveillance Program by December 31, 2026.
- Requires a report on outcomes and return on investment for the Hepatitis Prevention and Surveillance Program by December 31, 2026.
- Requires a report identifying vaccine utilization rates and cost-savings analysis for the Immunization Assessment Fund by December 31, 2026.
- Requires a report detailing the documented immigration status of individuals utilizing HIV prevention services through the HIV Prevention and Surveillance Program by December 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much total funding is appropriated by House Bill 978 for fiscal year 2027?
What reporting requirements are mandated by the legislation?
Are there any staffing reductions in the bill?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law with line-item vetoes.
Procedural history
15 actions- Apr 2, 2026EnrolledLine item vetoed by Governor on April 10, 2026 Session Law Chapter 312 Effective: 07/01/2026 with the exception of line item veto in SECTION 3
- Apr 2, 2026Delivered to Governor at 6:25 p.m. on April 2, 2026
- Apr 2, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Apr 2, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Apr 2, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Apr 2, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 9 earlier actions
- Apr 2, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Apr 2, 2026FloorRules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – Read third time in full – PASSED - 24-11-0 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward NAYS – Adams, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, Zuiderveld Absent and excused – None Floor Sponsor - Grow Title apvd - to House
- Apr 2, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Apr 2, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Finance
- Apr 2, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Apr 2, 2026FloorRules Suspended: Ayes 58 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 12, read in full as required – PASSED - 34-29-7 AYES – Barbieri, Berch, Cannon(Cannon), Cheatum, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert(Beazer), Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, McCann, Miller, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile NAYS – Alfieri, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Church, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehardt, Garner, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Hostetler, Leavitt, Mathias, Mendive, Mitchell, Palmer, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts(Batt), Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker Absent – Beiswenger, Bingham, Manwaring, Marmon, Mickelsen, Weber, Wheeler Floor Sponsor - Furniss Title apvd - to Senate
- Apr 2, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Apr 1, 2026Reported Printed; Filed for Second Reading
- Apr 1, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Increased Legislative Oversight on Health Programs
The bill pairs budget appropriations with strict reporting requirements on return on investment and immigration status for specific public health initiatives.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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