Adds to existing law to provide for the protection of working animals.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1241 BY AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO ANIMALS; AMENDING CHAPTER 35, TITLE 25, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDI-2 TION OF A NEW SECTION 25-3514B, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTEC-3 TION OF WORKING ANIMALS AND TO CLARIFY APPLICABILITY; AND DECLARING AN4 EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.5

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

SECTION 1. That Chapter 35, Title 25, Idaho Code, be, and the same is7 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-8 ignated as Section 25-3514B, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:9 25-3514B. PROTECTION OF WORKING ANIMALS. (1) The right to utilize10 working animals for the mutual benefit and welfare of working animals and11 those the working animals serve shall be guaranteed. No county, munici-12 pality, state agency, or political subdivision shall enact or enforce any13 ordinance, regulation, or rule that is more restrictive than state law or14 that terminates, bans, or effectively bans, by creating undue financial15 hardship, on-the-job use of working animals or a working animal enterprise.16 (2) For purposes of this section, "working animal" means any animal17 used for the purpose of performing a specific duty or function in commerce18 or service, including but not limited to animals involved in hunting, enter-19 tainment, including horse riding and carriage riding, transportation, edu-20 cation, exhibition, agritourism, ranching, farming, logging, or service.21 (3) This section shall not apply to cockfighting or dogfighting as pro-22 vided for in sections 25-3506 and 25-3507, Idaho Code.23

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby24 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after25 July 1, 2026.26