Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: S1401 – DHW Public Health Services FY2027 Appropriation
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 1401 makes targeted adjustments to the Department of Health and Welfare’s Public Health Services Division budget for fiscal year 2027. It appropriates $35,426,400 for Physical Health Services (including $28,020,000 from the Idaho Immunization Dedicated Vaccine Fund and $7,406,400 from the Cooperative Welfare Federal Fund), $278,400 for Laboratory Services, and $19,000 for Suicide Prevention and Awareness from the Cooperative Welfare General Fund. At the same time, the bill reduces the Laboratory Services appropriation by $78,400 in personnel costs from the federal fund and cuts the division’s authorized full-time equivalent positions by 3.00 for the fiscal year.
The bill also mandates four accountability reports due to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee by December 31, 2026. The Department of Health and Welfare must report on outcomes and return on investment for the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program, the HIV Prevention and Surveillance Program, and the Hepatitis Prevention and Surveillance Program. A separate report must detail vaccine utilization rates and a cost-savings analysis for the Idaho Immunization Assessment Fund, with all report formats developed in consultation with the Budget and Policy Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office.
Overall Assessment
Senate Bill 1401 is primarily a budget appropriations measure affecting the Department of Health and Welfare’s Public Health Services Division, with limited relevance to most of the evaluated policy metrics. The bill’s subject matter — public health funding, laboratory services, immunization programs, and suicide prevention — does not intersect with areas such as agriculture, water, energy, natural resources, education, or election policy, resulting in neutral scores across those categories.
The bill’s most significant policy impact is in the Health and Welfare category, where it receives a negative score. By directing additional state and federal funds into government-administered public health programs, the bill expands the role of government in health care delivery. While the mandatory accountability reports represent a modest step toward legislative oversight, they do not change the fundamental structure of government-run program funding. The reduction of 3.00 FTE positions introduces a minor countervailing element of workforce restraint, but this does not offset the overall expansion of government-managed health services. The bill’s single positive score in Responsibility in Government reflects the imposition of mandatory outcome and return-on-investment reporting requirements, which enhance legislative accountability over public health spending.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (1)
The bill mandates four specific accountability reports to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee by December 31, 2026, covering outcomes and return on investment for the Suicide Prevention and Awareness, HIV Prevention, and Hepatitis Prevention programs, as well as vaccine utilization and cost-savings analysis. These reporting requirements give the legislature direct oversight tools over how public health funds are being spent and whether programs are achieving measurable results. This structured accountability mechanism represents a positive step toward responsible, transparent governance.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
This bill is a technical budget appropriations measure focused on agency funding levels and internal reporting requirements. It does not create, expand, or restrict any mechanisms for citizen participation, public comment, or direct civic engagement in government processes, resulting in a neutral score.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
Senate Bill 1401 addresses public health services funding and does not contain any provisions related to education policy, curriculum, school funding, or educational institutions. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
The bill's appropriations and reporting requirements are confined to the Department of Health and Welfare's Public Health Services Division and have no connection to agricultural policy, farming operations, or rural land use. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
Senate Bill 1401 deals exclusively with public health program funding and contains no provisions related to water rights, water quality, irrigation, or water resource management. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
The bill appropriates funds for human health services programs and does not address natural resource management, environmental regulation, or conservation policy in any way. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
Senate Bill 1401 is a public health budget bill with no provisions related to energy production, energy regulation, utility policy, or energy infrastructure. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to the Idaho National Laboratories, nuclear research, or federal research facility operations. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
Senate Bill 1401 does not address property rights, land use regulations, eminent domain, or any other matter affecting the private property rights of Idaho citizens. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
The bill's subject matter is limited to public health services funding and does not involve state or federal land management, land transfers, or public lands policy. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
Senate Bill 1401 appropriates funds for human health programs and contains no provisions related to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, or fish and game policy. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
The bill makes targeted adjustments to a state agency's budget and does not contain provisions with a direct or meaningful impact on Idaho's broader economic environment, business climate, or regulatory burden on private enterprise. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (-1)
The bill appropriates additional moneys to the state Department of Health and Welfare Public Health Services Division for government-run programs like immunization, physical health services, laboratory, and suicide prevention (Section 1), using state and federal funds for public health delivery, which opposes 'private enterprise health care delivery system... with minimal government regulation' (Section 1) and 'oppose socialized medicine and government mandated health insurance' (Section 2). Reports add some accountability but do not alter the government funding mechanism.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
Senate Bill 1401 is a budget appropriations bill focused on public health program funding levels and does not directly address family structure, parental rights, marriage policy, or other matters specifically affecting the American family. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
The bill's appropriations cover general public health services and do not contain provisions specifically targeting or affecting older Americans, senior care, or aging-related programs. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
Senate Bill 1401 addresses public health funding and reporting requirements and does not contain provisions related to law enforcement, criminal justice, judicial processes, or public safety policy. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
The bill is a state public health budget measure and contains no provisions related to national defense, military affairs, border security, or immigration policy. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
Senate Bill 1401 deals exclusively with public health appropriations and does not address judicial selection, judicial elections, or the composition of Idaho's courts. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
The bill appropriates funds for government public health programs and does not contain any provisions that affect religious freedom, religious institutions, or the exercise of religion by Idaho citizens. It has no impact on this metric.