by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports

The Senate voted 26-9 in favor of a bill Tuesday that would declare EMS an essential service in Idaho and lay the groundwork for the state government to take over some of the costs in the future.

“It will take some time. We don’t want to do it all at once,” said bill sponsor Majority Caucus Chair Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs.

Senate Bill 1416 would move the existing Emergency Medical Services Bureau to be housed in the Office of Emergency Management going forward rather than its current spot in the Department of Health and Welfare.

“That’s why you see a new creation, to make sure this service doesn’t compete with Medicaid and child welfare and all those other pieces,” said Assistant Majority Leader Abby Lee, R-Fruitland. “This is a long time coming.”

Lawmakers have spent several years examining the sustainability of EMS providers since a 2021 Office of Performance Evaluations report highlighted inconsistencies in service across the state.

“Everybody loves to hear about the volunteerism,” said Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d’Alene. “If you don’t believe that someone’s going to be there knocking on the door in four minutes, are you okay with an hour and a half? That’s a body recovery versus somebody who’s actually saved.”

Lawmakers expressed uniform support for EMS and reiterated its importance, but several disagreed over whether shifting some of the costs and administration onto the state is the right approach.

“We have a challenge, and we have a huge problem,” said Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins. “I don’t think this is the solution. Rather than taking donations from the federal government, we should be taxing their land to provide those services… I do not believe this is the solution, and I’d like us to figure out a different one.”

The bill’s fiscal note estimates $2.2 million in cost share expenses for FY 2026, but says local input would determine further costs.

“We don’t know what this cost is actually going to be,” said Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton. “We don’t fund our local police or local firefighters using state funds in this manner… It seems to be a down payment for a much larger cost that we aren’t even anticipating.”

At least 13 states had designated EMS as essential in statute as of December 2023, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“I understand the folks that maybe want to say this is an expansion of government,” Bjerke said. “Look at this as a promise to the folks that have been doing so much of this work in Idaho. This is a reshuffling of the deck, you know, not necessarily creating a new program.”

The Senate passed SB 1416 with “no” votes from Sens. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins; Dan Foreman, R-Viola; Phil Hart, R-Kellogg; Scott Herndon, R-Sagle; Brian Lenney, R-Nampa; Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton; Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene; Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell; and Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls.

The bill must also pass the House to reach the governor’s desk and become law.

---