HB 391, the “Idaho Health Freedom Act,” has been amended by unanimous vote of the House. Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, said the problem is that the bill, as written, would outlaw a requirement imposed by the state Board of Education through state regulations, and approved by lawmakers back in 2002: Requiring all state college students to have health insurance. That move was part of a series of money-saving reforms the state made to its Medicaid program. Clark said it wasn't his intent to reverse that requirement. "This amendment makes a distinction between the federal and the state government," Clark told the House. "This solves the problem."

HB 391 seeks to set the state up for a lawsuit against federal health care reform legislation by banning the enforcement of any requirement for people to purchase health insurance, and requiring the state Attorney General to fight such requirements in court. The amended bill now can be considered by the full House, when it comes back up on the calendar.