This bill amends Chapter 9, Title 39 of the Idaho Code by adding a new section, 39-905A, which establishes mandatory hearing loss screening for all infants and newborns. The bill requires that these screenings be conducted prior to discharge from hospitals, health care facilities, or birthing facilities. For births outside of such facilities, the birthing attendant must ensure the screening occurs within 21 days of birth. The screenings must utilize approved physiologic methods, such as otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response, and the results must be reported to the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) within seven days.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that all screenings must adhere to standards set by the IESDB, which may also provide guidance and educational materials to assist providers. Importantly, the enforcement of these provisions is contingent upon the continued receipt of federal funding designated for infant and newborn hearing screening; if such funding is lost, the requirements would not be enforceable if it leads to increased costs for the state. The bill declares an emergency and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.