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Lawmakers are wrapping up their work for the 2025 session. Producer Ruth Brown interviews Senate Majority Caucus Chair Ben Toews about competing bills on medical freedom and what it takes to finally adjourn the session, and Senate Health and Welfare Committee Chair Julie VanOrden discusses changes to Idaho's Medicaid program.

Idaho Reports airs Friday at 8 p.m. on Idaho Public Television

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, who authored the law, brought the bill late in the session after talking to stakeholders. It would have clarified a child may receive medical care for “loss of life or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness.”

JFAC redrafted most of the enhancement budgets that were voted down by one chamber or the other. Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Wendy Horman told Idaho Reports they planned to pass an enhancement bill for most agencies, but some are wholly covered by the maintenance bills. Both chambers approved the last appropriations Thursday, April 3.

“We are through with budgets,” Finance Committee chair Sen. Scott Grow told his colleagues on the floor at 8:48pm. “Thank you very much.”

Idaho Capital Sun: In one of the most lopsided votes of the year, the Senate voted 3-31 to kill the first version of a fiscal year 2026 budget for the Idaho Transportation Department. The budget intent language could have forced the Ada County Highway District to spend millions on specific projects. “There is only one highway district and one road in one county that is being directed to spend a certain amount of money in this budget, and for that reason, I cannot support this,” said Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog.

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