Idaho Bills

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the election of commissioners in certain single countywide highway districts.

This legislation changes the process by which highway district commissioners are elected in a countywide highway district to match the process by which county officials are elected, effective for the 2028 election cycle. Specifically, it would match the process by which county commissioners are elected. Like county commissioners, countywide highway district commissioners will need to reside within the district they represent and will be elected countywide. Also, like county commissioners, they will file for nomination in the even-year May primary, and then the primary winners will run for election in the even-year general election. The process by which county commissioners are elected is well-understood and ensures that countywide commissioners are elected on the broadest possible basis. The legislation also allows for a candidate for the 2026 election to declare their party affiliation and to have that information available on the general election ballot.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for penalties and remedies regarding child custody interference.

This legislation strengthens Idaho’s response to child custody interference by clarifying definitions, defenses, enforcement duties, and penalties. It amends current code to clearly define custodial interference, including order violations, and establishes a graduated penalty framework that begins with infractions for first offenses and escalates to misdemeanors and felonies for repeat conduct. The bill requires law enforcement to promptly verify the child’s location and safety and to complete a written offense report within four hours, ensuring that children are seen, assessed, and not left unaccounted for, while also providing accountability through existing oversight and disciplinary mechanisms. The legislation further adds a new family-law provision requiring courts to restore parenting time that was wrongfully denied due to custodial interference or unsubstantiated investigations. Restoration must be of the same type and duration as the time lost and is expressly not treated as a custody modification. This ensures children do not permanently lose time with a fit parent due to procedural delays, enforcement failures, or investigations that do not result in findings of abuse or neglect.

Amends existing law to provide that judges and justices appointed to a judicial vacancy shall not be allowed to stand for election for the same judicial seat in the next election and to provide certain residency requirements for district judges.

This legislation will ensure that Idaho voters are able to vote for the judge of their choice when a judgeship position becomes open. As the process stands today, when a vacancy occurs in a judge's position, a replacement judge is appointed to fill the vacancy. The appointed judge then becomes an incumbent and is almost guaranteed to win in the next election. This legislation would disqualify an appointed judge from running in the next election, but would allow that same individual to run for a judge's position in a subsequent election.

Amends existing law to include the office of the president of the United States into the state primary election and to move the primary election date to the Tuesday following the first Monday in May.

The intent of this legislation is to provide consistency, fiscal responsibility, and increase turnout in our primary election process. It seeks to amend several sections of Idaho election code to hold all primary elections, including the presidential primary, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May. This aligns the dates of the primary elections and general elections to the same Tuesday in the month exactly six months apart from one another.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Parent-Student On-Road Driver's Training program.

Currently parents in Idaho can only teach their children to drive and obtain a driver's license in rural school districts or in urban districts that do not offer a driver's training course. This legislation simply allows parents statewide to teach their children to drive.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding agricultural pests.

This legislation amends Idaho Code 25-2601 to specifically include rats as pests for which county commissioners may take appropriate actions to control. The amendment also better organizes the code formatting of the pests list.

States findings of the Senate and condemns political violence, honors the lives of those killed or injured, and calls on all Idahoans to reject all forms of such violence.

The purpose of this resolution is to condemn the political violence that occurred in 2025, both in Idaho and across the United States. The resolution reaffirms the fundamental principles of a free and civil society, honors those who serve our shared communities, and emphasizes the importance of open and respectful political discourse without fear of violence or retribution. This resolution calls upon all Idahoans, regardless of their background, party affiliation, or beliefs, to reject political violence, recommit to respectful and constructive debate, and uphold the shared values of civility, unity, and mutual respect as Americans.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2027.

RS33828 / H0952 This appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of the State provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include a onetime appropriation of $350,000 for a voter pamphlet, as well as an ongoing transfer of $20,000 from operating expenditures to personnel costs to provide overtime expenses in lieu of compensatory time for the post election audit team. This bill also includes a 2% ongoing General Fund base reduction in the amount of $114,200. The total budget for the Office of the Secretary of State is $5,872,400.

Amends existing law to revise qualifications for cosmetology licensure.

This legislation lowers the amount of education hours for a cosmetology license from 1,600 to 1,000. It also lowers the amount of apprenticeship hours for a cosmetology license from 3,200 to 2,000. This lowers the barriers for people seeking to become cosmetologists. It also makes Idaho more competitive with other states.

States findings of the Senate and honors and commemorates State Police K9 Kimber for her service, dedication, and commitment to protecting the people of Idaho.

RS33616 / SR120 The purpose of this resolution is to honor and commemorate K9 Kimber for her outstanding service and dedication to protecting the people and institutions of the State of Idaho. This resolution expresses the Senate’s appreciation for K9 Kimber’s loyalty, courage, and commitment to duty.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding abatement districts and to provide for optional participation.

This bill requires mosquito abatement districts to obtain permission before spraying chemicals on a private property. Outlines legal recourse and financial penalties for districts out of compliance.

Amends existing law to revise compliance provisions regarding the Contractor Registration Act.

This legislation amends provisions of the Idaho Contractor Registration Act to clarify registration requirements and strengthen the authority of the contractor registration board to investigate and discipline contractors when necessary. The bill requires additional ownership and compliance information in contractor registration applications, updates disciplinary investigative authority, clarifies penalties and corrective options available to the board, and establishes procedures governing individuals seeking new registration following disciplinary action. The legislation also makes technical corrections to existing statute to improve clarity and consistency in administration enforcement.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding virtual public education in Idaho.

This legislation updates and aligns provisions governing virtual education programs operated by school districts and public charter schools.

Adds to existing law to establish the Medical Advanced Healing Act.

RS33592C1 / H0899 The Trump Administration’s 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allows states to begin studying rapid-acting therapies like neuroplastogens to treat conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This is because recent studies have shown neuroplastogens have the potential for more effective treatment of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, trauma, and addiction. States like Indiana, Arizona, New Jersey, Mississippi, and Texas have begun the process of enacting pilot programs to study the effectiveness of these treatments. Particular focus is on the United States veteran population, which is experiencing an average of 22 suicides a day from returning soldiers whose serious mental health conditions are not being effectively treated by traditional medications. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy stated the Trump administration’s goal is to make neuroplastogens widely available as soon as possible in the United States. The heads of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are also looking at the potential benefits of neuroplastogens. This legislation would create a revenue-neutral pilot program for Idaho to join in this effort.