Amends and repeals existing law to remove obsolete and outdated provisions relating to the Division of Veterans Services.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1273 BY COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO VETERANS; PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE INTENT; AMENDING SECTION2 65-201, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE OBSOLETE LANGUAGE; REPEALING SECTION3 65-210, IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO THE VETERANS HOME IN NORTHERN IDAHO; AND4 DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.5

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

SECTION 1. IDAHO CODE CLEANUP -- LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent7 of the Legislature to ensure that the state laws provided in Idaho Code are8 streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best9 serving the public health, safety, and welfare. In accordance with the Idaho10 Code Cleanup Act, following comprehensive review, the Legislature has iden-11 tified the provisions of this act as obsolete, outdated, or unnecessary.12

SECTION 2. That Section 65-201, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby13 amended to read as follows:14 65-201. DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES -- CREATION OF COMMISSION --15 APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS -- DISCONTINUANCE OF COMMISSION -- RECEIPT OF PROP-16 ERTY. (1) There is hereby established in the department of self-governing17 agencies the division of veterans services. The division shall be headed by18 an administrator who shall be appointed by the governor from a nomination19 list of eligible candidates for administrator submitted by the veterans20 affairs commission. The administrator may be removed from office by the21 governor only with the consent of the veterans affairs commission.22 (2) There is hereby created an advisory commission to be known as the23 Idaho veterans affairs commission to consist of five (5) persons, all of whom24 shall be appointed by the governor of the state of Idaho. Said appointees25 shall have had active service in any war or conflict officially engaged in by26 the government of the United States and have been honorably discharged from27 such service. No more than two (2) of said commission shall be residents of28 the same judicial district of the state of Idaho. Upon the expiration of a29 member's term, the subsequent appointment shall be made by the governor and30 shall be for a term of three (3) years. Such subsequent terms shall expire31 on the third Monday in January of the appropriate year. The governor shall32 have power to fill any and all vacancies occurring in said commission. The33 governor shall have the further full power to discontinue said commission34 by proclamation whenever the governor determines that the government of the35 United States, or the state of Idaho, shall have made adequate provision for36 the care and assistance of honorably discharged and destitute veterans of37 the armed forces.38 (3) All rights, title and interest in property, real and personal, held39 by the department of health and welfare for use in exercising the powers and40 duties transferred to the division of veterans services by chapter 59, laws41

2 of 2000, are hereby transferred to and vested in the division of veterans1 services.2

SECTION 3. That Section 65-210, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby3 repealed.4

SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby5 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after6 July 1, 2026.7