S1294 requires that all infants born in Idaho receive a hearing-loss screening before being discharged from a medical facility. For births occurring outside a medical facility, the bill requires the birth attendant to ensure the screening is completed. This requirement is funded through existing federal funds rather than a new state appropriation.
The Idaho State House of Representatives passed S1294 on March 26, 2026 by a vote of 37 to 32. We have assigned pluses to the nays because decisions regarding an infant's medical care should remain with the parents, not the government. Mandating hearing-loss screenings infringes on parental rights and expands government involvement in private healthcare decisions. Additionally, relying on federal funds not authorized by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution subjects the state to federal conditions and further erodes state sovereignty. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, and requiring babies to undergo this screening violates this constitutionally protected right.
