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ID S1294

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/13/2026

Primary Sponsor

Health and Welfare Committee

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • All infants and newborns must be screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge; for out-of-facility births, screening must occur within 21 days of birth
  • Screening must use physiologic methods approved by Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB), including otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response
  • Facilities and providers must report screening results to IESDB within 7 days to ensure appropriate follow-up and early intervention
  • IESDB establishes standards, schedules, and protocols for all required screenings and may provide guidance materials to providers
  • Provisions are contingent on continued federal funding and become unenforceable if loss of federal funding would increase state costs; effective date is July 1, 2026

Legislative Description

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding hearing loss screening.

INFANTS AND NEWBORNS

Last Action

Read first time as amended, filed for Second Reading

3/16/2026

Committee Referrals

Health and Welfare2/16/2026
Judiciary and Rules2/13/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available