This legislation provides that a homeowner who is absent in the current year by reason of religious missionary service shall not be disqualified from receiving the homestead tax exemption. Under this legislation, homeowners who serve religious missions and intend to return to their homestead will be treated the same as homeowners actively serving in the military.

This bill creates a new chapter in Idaho law making it a misdemeanor for employers, labor representatives, or employment agents to knowingly hire, continue employing, recruit individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. or authorized to work under federal law. It defines when an individual is considered unauthorized and requires employers to stop employment if they know or should know that work authorization has expired or been revoked. Employers who verify work authorization through the federal E-Verify system before hiring, and receive confirmation, are shielded from criminal liability and may raise good-faith compliance as an affirmative defense. An emergency clause provides for an effective date of July 1, 2026.

RS33642 / H0871 This appropriation to the State Tax Commission provides enhancements to the FY 2027 budget that includes appropriation for property tax education, system automation for Gentax, personnel costs from dedicated funds for the chief operating officer, FAST tax collection services, seasonal tax employees, replacement items, and IT hardware. Additionally, this bill provides supplemental funding for the FY 2026 budget for federal tax conformity implementation.

This bill ensures our youngest Idahoans are screened for hearing loss at birth so that proper interventions can be accessed in a timely manner.

This bill is brought to satisfy the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) so that Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) can continue to conduct background checks. For DHW to conduct background checks with the FBI: 1) a statute must exist as a result of legislative enactment; 2) require fingerprinting of applicants; 3) expressly or implicitly authorize the use of FBI records for screening of applicants; 4) to avoid overbreadth, identify the specific categories of licenses or employees falling with in the law’s purview; 5) not be against (federal) public policy; and 6) not authorize receipt use of confidential criminal history information to a private entity.

This legislation exempts the practice of interior design from the Idaho Architecture Practice Act to allow certified interior designers to sign and seal technical submissions for a limited set of drawings that are nonstructural and non-seismic interior construction and alteration projects. Additionally, this legislation establishes a voluntary certification for interior designers to be administered by the Idaho Board of Architects and Landscape Architects in order for interior designers to obtain sign and seal privileges. The certification is voluntary and will not require certification for interior designers who choose not to obtain it. Interior designers are trained, tested through education, experience, and examination to create safe, functional, accessible, and code compliance spaces. This legislation establishes a pathway for interior designers to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training.