The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session is Complete

The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session officially ended at approximately 6:30 PM on April 2^, bringing a very chaotic and challenging session to a close.

Budget cuts and state revenue discussions overtook most conversations this year, taking the oxygen out of the room for many other priority issues.

Our three priority issues included:

• Introducing legislation on Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs). We had many discussions with lawmakers on the importance of the issue, but were unable to overcome the obstacle of potential funding needs. However, we made significant strides and have already started efforts to secure passage in 2027.
• Protecting Medicaid and Medicaid Expansion. We successfully withstood the onslaught of legislation focused on cutting major provisions in Medicaid, including funding that supports medical education that helps Idaho recruit and retain physicians. We also helped defeat legislation that would have repealed the Medicaid Expansion program. We have more work to do to help keep Medicaid Expansion funding safe, and to ensure further obstacles aren’t placed in front of eligible Idahoans, however our strong and cohesive coalition is working together with our advocates throughout the state to prevent further barriers to health care.
• Tobacco prevention and cessation program funding took a big hit this year. The Joint Millennium Fund Committee decided to use Millennium Fund dollars traditionally used for tobacco prevention and cessation programs for other programs that have lost their funding in earlier budget negotiations. We were told this is a one-time funding shift, and we will push hard in 2027 to ensure these funds move back to tobacco control efforts.

Our success this year was in providing education and building support for our policy priorities, and we are keeping a keen eye on the primary elections to start the policy process early for the 2027 Legislative Session.