Idaho Bills

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for the electronic publication of public notices on the state controller's website and certain abbreviated newspaper publications by governmental entities and to revise provisions regarding publication by first class mail.

This proposed legislation allows for electronic publication on the state controller’s website for public notices (including public works projects) and other publications required by law. It directs the state controller to facilitate electronic publications in a staggered implementation schedule. It also staggers the rollout, with only stage agencies initially using the website for electronic notices. Beginning in 2027, local governments and all other entities and individuals may use the website for electronic notices. In the interim, local governments may use a condensed notice with a link to their website for the full notice. This proposed legislation also directs the state controller to create the ability for users to subscribe and receive push notifications – including those filtered to a geographic location. Finally, it clarifies that notices sent through mail may be included in a regular mailing such as a utility billing.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget that includes funding for an a license sales system contract increase, the final year of the Albeni Falls projects; funding for recreational access leases; phase two of the agency's website overhaul; support for seasonal employees who will work to restore habitat as part of mitigation stewardship; hatchery fish trailer tanks; region 7 office renovations; support for operational increases at regional offices; funding a lease at the McCall regional office; improvements to regional offices in Coeur d'Alene and Jerome; hatchery improvements; software licenses; fire rehabilitation funds pursuant to a settlement with the Idaho Power Company; funding to align the budget with federal grant revenues; support for remote connectivity; replacement items; and IT hardware. This appropriation also includes a FY 2025 supplemental for the costs incurred by the agency to purchase and plant grass/forb seed and apply herbicide via aerial application in Ada County to mitigate damage caused by the Valley Fire.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $20,000 for the Credit Mobility Grant in FY 2025. This bill also provides enhancements to the Office of the State Board of Education maintenance budget that include a database engineer, software support for the See Tell Now tipline, funding for a cybersecurity testing contract, funding for marketing of the See Tell Now tipline, appropriation of the Credit Mobility Grant in FY 2026, replacement vehicles for the School Safety and Security Program, replacement of OITS hardware, and funding for the Public Private Workforce Capacity Grant. This bill does not include the IT Systems and Infrastructure Engineer (line 1), the Education Effectiveness Program Manager (line 3), the Education Policy Analyst (line 4), College Applications Outreach (line 7), the Empowering Parents Specialist (line 8), Base Funding for Independent Study Idaho (line 9), Grant Administrator for the Firearms Safety Program (line 10), and the Behavioral Threat Assessment (line 12) as requested by the agency and recommended by the Governor.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding electrical contractor supervision and to define a term.

This legislation clarifies the definition of "supervision" and changes the existing statute to be in line with what the industry is asking for in the promulgated rules.

Adds to existing law to provide for the establishment of the Idaho High-Needs Student Fund.

This legislation creates a fund to help address costs associated with students with disabilities. These expenses can cause significant budget gaps. Funding would be distributed to districts and charters through an application process managed by the State Department of Education.

Amends existing law to require certain federal waivers for continued medicaid expansion eligibility.

This legislation safeguards Idaho’s Medicaid program by ensuring its sustainability, prioritizing resources for needy populations and promoting fairness and accountability. It establishes conditions for the continued expansion of Medicaid eligibility for able-bodied adults, aligning the program with the principles of self-sufficiency, fiscal responsibility, and integrity. Key provisions include: 1) Work Requirements: Able-bodied adults must work, train, or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, mirroring existing requirements for other welfare programs in Idaho. 2) Enrollment Caps: The number of able-bodied adult enrollees will not exceed the population of seniors or individuals with disabilities, ensuring resources prioritize the most vulnerable. 3) Improper Payment Controls: The Department of Health and Welfare must reduce improper Medicaid payment rates to 5% or less. 4) Verification of Eligibility: Enrollee eligibility will be reviewed biannually. 5) Time-Limited Benefits: Able-bodied adults will be subject to a three-year lifetime limit on Medicaid benefits. 6) Optional Private Coverage: Enrollees above 100% of the federal poverty level may opt for federally subsidized private health insurance. This conditional approach strengthens Idaho’s Medicaid program while maintaining flexibility. If the federal government or state agencies fail to meet these requirements, the legislation ensures Medicaid dollars are redirected to serve the truly needy.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the compensation of commissioners.

The Commission would like to increase the daily hearing rate for Commissioners from $300.00 to $400.00 per commissioner per day to recruit and retain commissioners on the board.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding truth in digital advertising sales.

This legislation will require providers of digital advertising to deliver to customers evidence that impressions purchased by a requesting customer have occurred.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding a violation of landowner rules for permissible use.

The purpose of this legislation is to clarify in Idaho Code that when the government or a landowner allows recreational use of land subject to terms or limitations, and gives notice of those terms, and a recreationist acts contrary to the terms of that permission, then the recreationist shall be considered in criminal trespass. The penalties shall be the same as those for criminal trespass.

Adds to existing law to provide for electric corporations' standard of care for wildfire liability.

This legislation creates the "Wildfire Standard of Care Act" under Title 61, Chapter 18 to create a standard of care through electric utility wildfire mitigation plans, subject to approval by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (lPUC) for regulated utilities. In recent years, wildfires have bankrupted utilities and driven their customers' monthly bills to crippling levels. In part, this is due to courts holding utilities liable for wildfire damages, despite a finding of fault or causation. Many of Idaho's utilities, especially small and rural co-ops, could not survive those losses. Higher bills would harm Idaho's economy and place extreme burden on low- and fixed-income customers. The "Wildfire Standard of Care Act" protects customers and member-owners from the impacts of wildfire by empowering the IPUC to setclearandconsistentexpectationsforutilities'wildfiremitigationefforts, holdingutilitiestoarobuststandard of care in operations, maintenance, repair, and upgrades, and outlining liabilities for utilities that fail to meet IPUC requirements. It also motivates federal agencies to promptly authorize wildfire mitigation work.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Liquor Division for fiscal year 2026.

This is the enhancement appropriation to the State Liquor Division. As detailed in Table 1 of the

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions and requirements regarding collection of DNA samples and thumbprint impressions.

This legislation serves two purposes. First, it adds certain misdemeanors to the list of crimes for which collection of a DNA sample and thumbprint impression are required. These misdemeanors, and the existing crimes for which collection is required, are listed at the proposed section 19-5502(10), Idaho Code. The misdemeanors added can be indicative of a tendency to more serious conduct, including (a) crimes which may be precursors to more violent activities, (b) crimes that may have been originally charged as felonies, but were pleaded down to misdemeanors, or (c) crimes that evidence an unwillingness to comply with existing legal constraints. Second, the legislation seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of offenders and government officials in the process of collecting DNA samples and thumbprint impressions. To accomplish this, it adds a new section, section19-2512, IdahoCode, whichprovidesthatatthetimeofsentencing, judgeswillordersentenced offenders to submit to collection and order certain government officials to cause the samples to be collected within a time certain. It also sets specific time frames and responsibilities for collection from other offenders who are already sentenced or entering the state pursuant to an interstate compact for supervision.

Amends existing law to create a voluntary donation for the purpose of promoting and advancing vision health.

This legislation provides for a voluntary check off box on the driver's license application where one can donate $2 to a fund that will provide for 'no charge' vision screening, vision treatment and eye health exams for low income people who do not pass the eye exam while renewing or obtaining their drivers license. The donation will be directed to Envision Sight, an Idaho nonprofit corporation who will provide these services to those who do not have the means to pay for them.

Amends and adds to existing law to establish electronic driver's licenses and identification cards.

This legislation grants the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) authority to issue electronic identification (ID) cards and driver’s licenses (DL). These electronic IDs and DLs will be stored in the credential holder’s mobile phone wallet application.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Central Services for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Public School Support Program's Central Services Division provides enhancements to the FY 2026 program maintenance budget with the addition of onetime funding for a pilot program for student transportation routing software for fiscal year 2026. This bill does not include funding for professional learning communities (PLCs), the Idaho Reading Indicator contract changes, or to support a data dashboard and report card.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Central Services for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Public School Support Program's Central Services Division provides enhancements to the FY 2026 program maintenance budget with the addition of onetime funding for a pilot program for student transportation routing software for fiscal year 2026. This bill does not include funding for professional learning communities (PLCs), the Idaho Reading Indicator contract changes, or to support a data dashboard and report card.

Adds to existing law to require the provision of copies of medical records in certain circumstances.

This legislation amends Title 39, Idaho Code, to provide that a patient may obtain a copy of their own medical records free of charge from a health care facility or physician for qualified claims and appeals for Social Security disability benefits.