Idaho Bills

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2027.

RS33730 / H0909 This appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of the State provides enhancements to the FY 2027 budget that include a onetime appropriation of $350,000 for a voter pamphlet, as well as an ongoing transfer of $20,000 from operating expenditures to personnel costs to provide overtime expenses in lieu of compensatory time for the post-election audit team.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act.

RS33735 / S1399 The purpose of this bill is to give consumers more options for transferring property upon their death. This bill adopts the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act in Idaho, authorizing an individual to execute and record a transfer-on-death deed for real property located in this state. The deed is revocable, does not transfer any present ownership interest during the transferor’s lifetime, and allows the property to pass to a designated beneficiary upon the transferor’s death outside of probate. The bill preserves the transferor’s full rights in the property during life and provides that transferred property remains subject to existing encumbrances and certain claims if the estate is insufficient. This legislation gives Idahoans an additional estate planning tool and aligns Idaho law with the growing number of states that permit transfer-on-death deeds.

Amends existing law to revise the salaries of state elective officers.

RS33715 / S1400 This legislation provides for a temporary reduction in the compensation of State Elective Officers of the Idaho Executive Branch for the 2027 calendar year. Idaho is currently facing declining revenue projections and is preparing for the estimated cost of conforming to upcoming federal tax changes. In response, the Governor has recommended a three percent reduction to state agency budgets for fiscal year 2027, and the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has added an additional two percent reduction, bringing the total reduction to five percent across most state agencies. These budget reductions, along with the decision not to provide salary increases for many state employees, place real financial pressure on Idaho’s citizens and public workforce. This legislation reflects the belief that elected officials should also share in those sacrifices. Under the Idaho Constitution, the Legislature is responsible for establishing compensation for State Elective Officers. This legislation therefore provides for a temporary five percent reduction in compensation for State Elective Officers beginning in January 2027 and ending in January 2028. The intent of this legislation is to ensure that elected officials share in the same financial realities currently facing the citizens and employees of the State of Idaho.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the punishment for rape.

RS33655 / S1414 The current penalty for the crime of rape in Idaho is a minimum of one year to a maximum of life. This legislation increases the minimum penalty from one year to five years and maintains the maximum penalty of life in prison. This brings the minimum penalty for rape in Idaho more in line with other states for this serious felony.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding Medicaid prior authorization exemptions for certain preceptorships.

This legislation establishes a prior authorization exemption for certain physicians who provide substantial preceptorship training to graduate medical students in Idaho, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Physicians practicing in primary care, psychiatry, or obstetrics and gynecology who provide at least 360 hours of qualifying preceptorship in a calendar year, with at least 60 percent of those hours occurring in qualified rural areas, are eligible for a twelve-month exemption from prior authorization requirements for medically necessary services billed to Idaho Medicaid managed care plans and state-contracted insurers. The bill directs the Department of Health and Welfare to verify reported preceptorship hours and administer the exemption and allows insurers to rescind exemptions if claims fail to meet medical necessity standards. Annual participation is limited to one hundred physicians per eligible specialty. The legislation is intended to encourage physician participation in training programs, strengthen Idaho's healthcare workforce pipeline, and improve access to care in rural and underserved areas.

Adds to exsiting law to establish the Idaho Prior Authorization Refom Act.

This legislation establishes the Idaho Prior Authorization Reform Act to improve transparency, consistency, and timeliness in prior authorization processes used by health insurers and utilization review organizations. The bill requires insurers to publicly disclose prior authorization requirements and clinical criteria, implement standardized electronic prior authorization processes, and comply with defined timelines for standard and expedited determinations. The legislation establishes notification and appeal standards, requires appropriately qualified clinical reviewers, sets minimum validity periods for approvals, provides continuity of approvals when coverage changes, and prohibits improper revocation of prior authorizations. The bill further provides enforcement authority to the Department of Insurance, requires annual reporting of prior authorization data, establishes penalties for noncompliance, and addresses fraudulent prior authorization requests. The legislation is intended to reduce administrative burden, improve patient access to medically necessary care, and provide clear standards for prior authorization practices in Idaho.

Proposes an amendment to House Rule 18 to provide for the doors to the east wing of the third floor of the state capitol building to be locked during a call of the House and to provide for members to return to their floor desks when business is transacted.

Modifying House Rule 18 - Call of the House to specify that the east wing of the state capitol will be sealed and locked while under the Call of the House. This will allow access to leadership offices and restrooms in the case of a prolonged Call. All members would be required to return to their seats whenever business is being transacted while the Call of the House is in effect.

Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to establish provisions for the management of certain lands granted or acquired from the federal government.

Protecting public lands in Idaho from permanent loss is of vital importance to the identity, culture, and livelihoods of Idahoans. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to Section 8, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution, distinguishing between state endowment lands granted for specific institutional purposes and public lands acquired from the federal government. The state Endowment will be unaffected, ensuring that the Endowment continues to generate revenue for its beneficiaries. Federally managed lands that may be endowed in the future will be placed in a separate, inviolable trust to be preserved for future generations, prohibiting the sale of these lands and allowing exchanges when approved by a two-third vote of the Legislature. These lands will be managed to balance and promote resource utilization, public recreation, scenic values, watershed quality, and wildlife habitat. Revenue from these lands will be applied to the Public Lands Trust Fund, dedicated first to operating and maintaining the land, then to compensating counties, enhancing public access, and supporting primary and secondary public education facilities.

Amends existing law to extend the length for commercial leases on endowment lands.

RS33721 / S1413 This legislation amends Idaho Code to increase the maximum allowable term for certain commercial leases on state endowment lands from forty-nine (49) years to ninety-nine (99) years. Longer lease terms provide greater certainty for businesses making substantial capital investments on leased land. Many commercial projects require significant up-front infrastructure and construction costs that cannot be reasonably recovered within a forty-nine-year lease term. Extending the allowable lease term to ninety-nine years will make these projects more financially viable and competitive with similar opportunities in neighboring states. By improving the marketability and financeability of leases on state endowment lands, this change is expected to encourage additional commercial development while helping the State Land Board maximize long-term revenues for Idaho's endowment beneficiaries, including public schools and other institutions.

Adds to existing law to prohibit the use of a mask or disguise during a criminal offense and to provide for a sentencing enhancement.

This legislation provides for an optional sentencing enhancement for the situation wherein a person commits, or attempts to commit, a crime while wearing a mask or other device to cover their face. If convicted of an underlying crime while wearing a mask, the underlying sentence may be enhanced with up to an additional one (1) year in jail or prison, and/or a potential fine of up to $2,500.00.

Adds to existing law to specify certain requirements regarding the use of earned sick leave.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish a protection of an employee’s legitimate use of company offered sick leave for injury or illness. This legislation does not mandate employers to offer sick leave, make requirements of what must be present in an employer’s sick leave policy, or otherwise require financial compensation for accrued balances of sick leave at the time of an employee’s separation.