Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding single stairway building exceptions.

This legislation amends the Idaho Building Code Act to authorize local governments to allow certain apartment buildings to be served by a single interior exit stairway, notwithstanding adoption of the International Building Code, provided they meet certain life safety and design standards. Eligible buildings may be up to six stories, with limits on unit count per floor and total floor area, and must include enhanced fire protection measures such as full NFPA 13 sprinkler systems, two-hour fire rated stair and shaft enclosures, pressurized stairwells, fire rated corridors and openings, limited travel distances, emergency escape and rescue openings, and comprehensive smoke and fire detection systems.

Amends existing law to provide for certified interior designers to be able to sign and seal certain technical submissions and to make such submissions to state or local governmental entities.

This legislation exempts the practice of interior design from the Idaho Architecture Practice Act to allow certified interior designers to sign and seal technical submissions for a limited set of drawings that are nonstructural and non-seismic interior construction and alteration projects. Additionally, this legislation establishes a voluntary certification for interior designers to be administered by the Idaho Board of Architects and Landscape Architects in order for interior designers to obtain sign and seal privileges. The certification is voluntary and will not require certification for interior designers who choose not to obtain it. Interior designers are trained, tested through education, experience, and examination to create safe, functional, accessible, and code compliance spaces. This legislation establishes a pathway for interior designers to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Employee Retirement System for fiscal year 2027.

RS33546 / H0868 This appropriation to the Public Employee Retirement System provides onetime enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include funding for a pension software upgrade, continuity-of-operations plan, and replacement items.

Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho State Lottery for fiscal year 2027.

RS33643 / S1381 This appropriation to the State Lottery provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include replacement computer equipment such as desktops, laptops, and Apple workstations used to develop scratch games.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for fiscal year 2027.

RS33711 / H0923 This appropriation to the Department of Administration provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include a shift of utilities costs from the General Fund to dedicated funds and a program transfer for an administrative support position. It also provides dedicated funding for 1.00 FTP for a bureau chief for Medicaid procurement, general inflation for utilities rate increases, IT hardware, and an adjustment to a prior General Fund rescission for a long-term vacant position to correct a calculation error.

Amends 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.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the duties of political treasurers.

RS33756 / H0930 This Legislation amends Idaho Code Section 67-6604, relating to Campaign Finance. The bill does two things. It will: • Require all political candidates and Political committees to open a separate checking account for the purpose of collecting contributions and paying expenses of one’s campaign and said funds shall not be commingled with any other account; • Require a candidate who loans personal funds to his political campaign account, an amount exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), to report said loan to the Idaho Secretary of State and shall deposit said loan amount into his candidate campaign checking account; and • Allow a candidate and a political committee to invest campaign funds, but only in certificates of deposit, money market accounts, or other cash-equivalent accounts. A candidate or political committee may not invest in stocks or other equity securities.