A move to pull HB 28, legislation from Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, from the House State Affairs Committee, where it's been languishing without a hearing, has failed in the House on a 53-16 vote. The bill would amend last year's "conscience law" to protect patients' living wills and advance care directives from being violated because of conscience concerns by health care providers. Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, House State Affairs chairman, told the House, "Though it has been some time since HB 28 was introduced, I'd like to assure the members of the body that it has not gone unnoticed." He said there's still work going on "behind the scenes" on the issue.