Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to authorize liquor licensure for a distillery in certain instances.

The purpose of this legislation is to authorize a distillery the ability to sell liquor by the drink explicitly from the brands that it owns.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding gold and silver coin and specie.

This legislation declares gold and silver coin shall be legal tender in the State of Idaho. No person or entity may compel another person or entity to tender or accept gold or silver coin unless agreed upon both parties.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Direct to Consumer Commerce Act.

This legislation reduces government regulation concerning the sale of homemade food and non-alcoholic drink products direct to consumers within the state of Idaho. It also reduces regulation by expanding the state custom meat exemption to be any portion size other than wholes, halves, or quarters. The provisions of this legislation apply to small scale individuals and businesses and not larger scale commercial food manufacturing and those involved in interstate commerce. The legislation provides reasonable basic requirements and consumer disclosures to ensure safety while promoting transparency, consumer choice, and access to locally produced food.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding reporting requirements for the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

This bill requires annual reporting by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) on federal homeless assistance funds it administers, including Continuum Of Care and Emergency Solutions Grant programs, to provide transparency on how those funds are received, distributed, and the outcome. This legislation does not reduce funding or affect services.

Adds to existing law to provide for school district and public charter school earned autonomy regarding spending.

RS33652C1 / H0883 This bill grants high-performing public charter schools and districts greater flexibility in the use of state funds while reducing unnecessary reporting requirements to the state.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination for fiscal year 2027.

RS33771 / S1416 This appropriation provides for the consolidation of the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) and the Office of Species Conservation (OSC) into the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination, pursuant to H737. Additionally, this bill provides enhancements to the new office that include an FTP/Fund Realignment to align FTP and dedicated funds to where work is expected to be billed; funding for Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear, which provides the agency flexibility to support state level nuclear related projects; federal funding for fish habitat restoration and rehabilitation; and funding from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund for Energy Resiliency Grants, which serves as a state match for federal energy resiliency programs.

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 revise and remove provisions regarding flags flown by a governmental entity, to provide a penalty, and to establish provisions regarding enforcement by the Attorney General.

This legislation amends Idaho Code to revise provisions regarding flags flown by government entities and to establish provisions regarding enforcement by the Attorney General. Failure of a government entity to comply will be subject to a civil penalty of $2000 per flag each day flag is displayed. The Attorney General will have the duty to enforce this penalty against a government entity. If there is a failure to comply, the Attorney General has the authority to file a civil action in District Court.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027.

RS33814 / S1434 This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Division of Welfare provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include a reduction from federal funds and an increase to the General Fund to account for the shift in SNAP administration costs (enhancement #18), costs of implementing Medicaid Expansion work and community engagement requirements (enhancement #19), and the cost of system updates to track Medicaid eligibility determinations (enhancement #20). All three enhancements are related to H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Enhancements #19 and 20 are also related to House Bill 345 of 2025.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding special expertise of boards of county commissioners and coordination of planning efforts with federal agencies.

This legislation establishes that a board of county commissioners is deemed to have "special expertise" in all subject matters they are statutorily responsible for when acting as a cooperating agency in federal land planning. This includes matters affecting the health, safety, welfare, custom, culture, and socio-economic viability of the county. Additionally, this bill authorizes county commissioners to coordinate their officially adopted comprehensive plans with federal agencies as provided under federal laws such as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This ensures that local governments have a formal voice in federal land management decisions that directly impact their communities.

Relates to the maintenance appropriations to the Department of Health and Welfare and the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2027.

RS33809 / S1435 This is the FY 2027 Maintenance Appropriation for Health and Human Services. This bill includes appropriations to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the State Independent Living Council. The appropriation includes standard adjustments for personnel benefit costs, contract inflation, statewide cost allocation, and a base reduction of up to 5%. The appropriation also includes the fiscal impact of House Bill 863.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027.

RS33815 / S1432 This appropriation bill to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Divisions of Indirect Support, Licensing and Certification, and Independent Councils (collectively known as "Other Programs") provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include a fund shift for the Background Check Unit (enhancement #11), funding for replacement items (enhancement #58), OITS modernization and consolidation, and the fiscal impact of S1314 (enhancement #27). This bill also includes partial restoration of funding for the Domestic Violence Council (enhancement #30).

Amends existing law to provide for a printed copy of a registration card for vehicles.

This legislation will allow an electronic format of a vehicle registration to be used in place of a paper card. Currently, proof of insurance can be used in an electronic format, so this will provide another option for vehicle registration.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding employment of relatives and to provide an exemption regarding the employment of certain relatives.

The purpose of this legislation is to provide a narrow exception to existing restrictions on the appointment or employment of individuals related to local elected officials in cities with populations under 10,000, while preserving the intent of Idaho Code § 18-1359 to prevent favoritism and misuse of public office.

States findings of the Legislature and supports curtailment of the pelican population.

RS33833 / HJM022 This joint memorial urges the United State Fish and Wildlife Service to curtail or allow curtailment of the number of pelicans in the State of Idaho. Pelicans were added to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1913 which has resulted in substantial success in pelican population growth, to the extent of overpopulation in Idaho. Pelicans are negatively affecting Idaho’s abundant wetland refuge eco-system and have become detrimental to Idaho’s fish population throughout our State. Consequently, pelicans have adversely affected the success of Idaho’s recreational and sports fishermen.

Repeals existing law to remove outdated or unnecessary provisions related to the Department of Fish and Game.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the DOGE Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Section 36-1120, Idaho Code that provides minimum fines for illegal hunting of mountain lion, buffalo, and caribou. Fines for hunting violations are established in other sections of Idaho Code.

States findings of the Legislature and supports advancement of state energy sovereignty.

This concurrent resolution states the findings of the Idaho Legislature and affirms Idaho's commitment to advancing state energy sovereignty, protecting ratepayers, and ensuring long-term grid reliability through secure, dispatchable in-state baseload energy generation. It establishes that major transmission infrastructure projects materially affecting Idaho customers must demonstrate a clear and durable net benefit to Idaho ratepayers before state-level approval or cost recovery is permitted, and affirms the protection of private property rights, agricultural and rural communities, and Idaho's economic interests in all energy planning and market participation decisions.

Amends language added by House Bill 645 regarding the Portable Benefit Plan Act.

RS33734 / H0931 This is a trailer bill to HB645. HB645 created the portable Benefit Plan Act. This legislation simply removes the definition of Department. The Department of Insuance was not directed to do anything within the bill so the reference is not necessary and would create confusion if left within the act.

Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program integrity measures and verification.

This legislation strengthens the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by implementing rigorous verification and data-matching protocols. The bill requires the Department of Health and Welfare to establish data-sharing agreements with state and federal agencies to monitor lottery winnings, incarceration status, death records, and out-of-state EBT transactions to ensure benefits are reserved for eligible residents. Additionally, the act limits the use of broad-based categorical eligibility, mandates more frequent certification periods for unstable households, and requires public reporting on fraud investigations and improper payments to improve program transparency and accountability. These provisions ensure Idaho is in compliance with the changes implemented in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Amends and adds to existing law to consolidate provisions regarding denturitry licensure.

RS33752 / H0935 This legislation would consolidate the regulatory oversight of denturitry within the Idaho State Board of Dentistry by transferring authority from the existing independent Board of Denturitry. Under this model, denturitry would remain a distinct licensed profession with its own scope of practice and licensure requirements, but would be regulated under a unified dental board structure, similar to successful approaches adopted in other states. This structural realignment promotes administrative efficiency, fosters interprofessional collaboration, and strengthens regulatory consistency across oral health professions in Idaho.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the formation of community infrastructure districts.

RS33763 / H0926 Community Infrastructure Districts (CID) were created by the legislature in 2008 to ensure that new development pays for required public infrastructure without shifting those costs to existing taxpayers. The legislation aligns county and city authority by allowing counties to form a CID in unincorporated areas outside a city’s comprehensive plan, ensuring that counties have access to the same infrastructure financing mechanism already available to cities when they serve as the primary land-use authority.

Relates to the appropriation and transfer of moneys in the state treasury for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

This bill addresses several cash transfers into the General Fund for FY 2026 and 2027. The source of cash transfers include: (1.) the Strategic Initiatives Program Fund; (2.) the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship Fund; (3.) the Permanent Building Fund; (4.) the Water Pollution Control Fund; and (5.) the In-Demand Careers Fund.

Amends existing law to revise terminology and to revise provisions regarding restraint and nonjudicial punishment in the Model State Code of Military Justice.

This legislation seeks to amend and update the Idaho Code of Military Justice (ICMJ) to further enhance commanders’ ability to maintain good order and discipline, enhance access to constitutional protections for accused, and remove antiquated and inapplicable language. The ICMJ currently contains various provisions that are incompatible with the IDNG when operating in a Title 32 or State active-duty status, therefore hindering the IDNG’s ability to properly administer military justice. To remedy this issue, the revisions will 1) promote consistency in the application of military justice; 2) enhance ICMJ’s compatibility with IDNG operations; and 3) empower subordinate commanders to conduct military justice by removing technical/legal barriers, which will improve good order and discipline at the lowest level. Key changes include: removing the promotion authority requirement for a commander to initiate non-judicial punishment (NJP), which will allow lower level commanders to use NJP; removing a member’s ability to turndown NJP unless restriction on liberty is sought by a commander; making Summary Courts- Martial mandatory to provide for quick and cost effective punitive review of members’ misconduct; removing inapplicable language pertaining to naval and other services; and removing unconstitutional arrest and seizure given the Idaho Supreme Court decision in State v Clarke.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding apportionment of the Highway Distribution Account, to remove a limitation regarding revenues received from fuel taxes, and to revise a provision regarding the distribution of the tax on special fuels.

This legislation streamlines the distribution process for vehicle registration fees and fuel taxes. It updates the Highway Distribution Account (HDA) distribution to treat all user fee funds the same, a 60% state and 40% local split. 2015 legislation added a process where new gas tax revenue would be tracked separately from traditional revenue. In 2019, legislation passed to gradually shift the Idaho State Police (ISP) funding away from the HDA and replace it with money from the state's general fund. The shift was implemented over a five-year period from FY21 to FY25. There is no longer a need to track items separately after ISP was removed. This legislation does not change any current revenue sources to the HDA or the 60/40 split; it updates statute to reflect the current process. The legislation also ensures bridge safety. It increases the local bridge inspection account from $175,000 annually to $300,000 annually in dedicated funds by a gas tax transfer to keep the fund solvent for FY27 and beyond. The cost of bridge inspections and number of inspections has increased over time. The $175,000 amount is no longer sufficient to cover the needs for inspections.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding coverage of anticancer medications under health benefit plans.

The purpose of this legislation is to create co-insurance parity for cancer treatment patient cost regardless of treatment being intravenously administered, injected, or orally taken. The legislation directs the Department of Insurance to ensure state regulated health plans, when anti-cancer medication is covered by a health plan, to provide patients access to orally administered anti-cancer medications at a co-insurance rate no more than the cost to access injected or intravenously administered medication.