Bill > S1294

This bill establishes new requirements for hearing loss screening for all infants and newborns in Idaho, mandating that these screenings occur before hospital discharge or, for out-of-hospital births, within twenty-one days of birth with referral to a screening facility if necessary. The screenings must use approved physiologic methods like otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response, as determined by the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB), an organization that will also receive reports of failed screenings within seven days and other results monthly to ensure timely follow-up and early intervention. All screening procedures must adhere to standards set by the IESDB, which may also provide guidance to providers, and importantly, these provisions are contingent on the continued receipt of federal funding, meaning they will not be enforced if such funding is lost and would increase state costs. The bill also declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services, Justice

Health and Welfare Committee (Senate)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/S1294/