A strict parental consent law is impeding Idahos crisis and suicide hotline from supporting struggling youth across the state, staffers report. Last year, Republicans passed Senate Bill 1329, which banned all healthcare providers from treating minors without prior consent from a parent or legal guardian unless treatment is necessary in order to prevent death or imminent, irreparable physical injury to the minor child. Related Protestors across Florida rally against rainbow crosswalk removals: We will not be erased The law was championed by the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom, with the groups Senior Counsel Matt Sharp decrying instances nationwide of government officials actively seeking to replace parents as the ultimate determiners of whats best for children. (This common conservative argument against trans health care is completely counter to the GOPs actions banning health care providers and parents from making the best medical decisions for children regarding transition care.) At the time, opponents of the legislation posited that it was another way for the GOP to restrict teens ability to terminate a pregnancy or access gender-affirming care, though Idaho already has a law on the books making it a felony to provide gender-affirming care for trans youth. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Many also worried about its implications for investigations of parental abuse, since that parent would have to consent to their child being examined. Some also argued it would significantly limit LGBTQ+ youths access to therapy, since the law also mandates providers to turn over minor medical records (including therapy notes) to parents upon request. Now, folks who staff the states 988 Crisis and Suicide Hotline say their work has also been significantly limited by the law. In many cases, they say they now have to ask the kids who call to put a parent on the phone who can grant them permission to continue the conversation. In most situations, the minor hangs up because they tell us they feel like they cant do that, the hotlines director, Lee Flinn, told the Idaho Capital Sun. We really do want and hope that minors have a parent or two parents that support them, but one of the things that we hear sometimes is that they dont have a parent they can talk to.While the legislation does permit providers to treat kids without parental consent if they determine their life is in immediate danger, Lee said young people call in all the time who are clearly in serious crisis but still dont meet that very high bar.If a teenager tells us they are suicidal but theyre not at imminent risk, meaning they may not have a plan, they may not have access to lethal means, theyre still feeling suicidal and it is best practice to offer a follow up call the next day within 24 hours, she added. And were not able to offer that follow up call or support to minors because of this law. The problem is especially significant for LGBTQ+ youth, who are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as non-LGBTQ+ youth.The sponsors of the bill, state Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R) and state Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon (R), have acknowledged that some language in the law should be clarified to prevent situations like the hotline is experiencing.She told the Capital Sun she did not know about its challenges but that she had said from the beginning that we wanted to keep an eye on things pertaining to suicide.I think thats worth looking at, she added. Anthon also proposed a bill earlier this year clarifying several components of the law, including an explicit exception for kids calling in to the crisis hotline. The bill passed the state house but was never brought to a vote in the senate. According to Ehardt, who said she thinks the law has been interpreted too broadly, it came too late in the session. She plans to propose a new bill in early 2026. The Movement Advancement Project has scored Idaho -9.5 out of 49 when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. Among many other hostile policies, the state bans trans students from playing on sports teams and using school facilities that align with their gender identity. It also has no nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ students, and effective July 1, school districts are banned from lessons on LGBTQ+ issues in kindergarten through 12th grade.According to the Idaho Capital Sun, at least 10 anti-LGBTQ+ policies have been adopted in the state in 2025 alone.If this story affected you, just know you are not alone. TheTrans Lifeline Hotlineoffers support to trans/nonbinary people struggling with mental health from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. PST Monday-Friday. Call (877) 565-8860 to be connected to a trans/nonbinary peer operator and receive full anonymity and confidentiality. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth ages 24 and younger, can be reached at (866) 488-7386.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.