Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding leaves of absence from regular duties for military duty.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 544 BY COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO LEAVES OF ABSENCE FOR MILITARY DUTY; AMENDING SECTION 46-216,2 IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE PROVISIONS REGARDING LEAVES OF ABSENCE FROM REG-3 ULAR DUTIES FOR MILITARY DUTY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING4 AN EFFECTIVE DATE.5

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:6

SECTION 1. That Section 46-216, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby7 amended to read as follows:8 46-216. LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM REGULAR DUTIES FOR MILITARY DUTY. All9 officers and employees of the state of Idaho who shall be are current mem-10 bers of the national guard or who shall be are current reservists in the armed11 forces of the United States, shall be entitled each calendar year to one hun-12 dred twenty (120) one hundred sixty (160) hours of military leave of absence13 from their respective duties without loss of pay, time, or efficiency rat-14 ing during which they shall be engaged in military duty ordered or authorized15 under the provisions of law. State employees assigned to "uncommon tours of16 duty" shall have the above-referenced one hundred twenty (120) one hundred17 sixty (160) hours of leave prorated proportionally to the number of hours in18 their regularly scheduled biweekly pay period. Administration of paid leave19 for "uncommon tours of duty" military duty shall be consistent with the fed-20 eral office of personnel management (OPM) definitions and pay administra-21 tion guidance for similarly situated federal employees.22

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby23 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after24 July 1, 2026.25