Idaho Bills

Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for prohibited acts and penalties regarding air bags and air bag systems.

Confidence in the proper functionality of a vehicle supplemental restraint system is crucial. Counterfeit replacement parts undermine safety and put lives at risk. This legislation adds a new section, 49-967, to Idaho Code that defines “air bag,” “automobile supplemental restraint system,” “counterfeit automobile supplemental restraint system,” and “nonfunctional air bag.” It establishes a misdemeanor penalty for the manufacture, sale, import, or distribution of counterfeit automobile supplemental restraint systems or nonfunctional air bags that don’t meet national safety standards. It also prohibits knowingly or intentionally installing or reinstalling counterfeit automobile supplemental restraint systems or nonfunctional air bags that don’t meet national safety standards.

Amends existing law to include tribal health facilities in provisions regarding certain detentions without hearing.

This legislation makes amendments to Idaho's involuntary commitment statute. As proposed, it adds a tribal health care facility as an acceptable site to hold an individual if a peace officer or medical staff at the facility believes the individual poses a grave threat to themself or others due to mental illness. The legislation also states that, for purposes of this section only, a "peace officer" includes tribal police officers.

States findings of the Legislature and encourages the celebration of America250 in Idaho.

As the United States approaches its semi-quincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding — Idaho seeks to demonstrate its deep patriotism and unwavering commitment to the core principles of liberty, equality, justice, and self-governance by endorsing a series of meaningful initiatives that embody these enduring ideals through active civic engagement, including: • The designation of a YEAR OF VOLUNTEERISM with a statewide goal of 250,000 acts of service tracked through IdahoKindness.com. • The introduction and promotion of a new original state song titled “Forever Idaho” to honor our shared heritage and aspirations. • A statewide campaign to gather signatures on a large-scale replica of the Declaration of Independence as a symbol of renewed appreciation for America’s foundational document.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding cloud seeding programs.

This legislation updates Idaho’s cloud seeding statutes by placing clear definitions, authorization, and reporting mechanisms into law to improve transparency and accountability. It provides for public meetings and reporting on cloud seeding operations, environmental considerations, and program effectiveness under an existing program.

Amends existing law to provide that verification of lawful presence is not required to apply for or receive crime victims compensation.

This legislation clarifies that the verification of lawful presence does not apply to applications for crime victims compensation, including the collection of evidence during sexual assault forensic examinations. The crime victims compensation program encourages victims to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement, thereby supporting public safety. By restoring this well-established process, the legislation ensures that crime victims receive the essential services and compensation needed for healing and continued cooperation with law enforcement.

Adds to existing law to require Idaho public schools to establish policies providing for a daily moment of silence.

This legislation requires public school classrooms provide a moment of silence for students for a minimum of sixty seconds, at or near the beginning of each school day, to reflect, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity. It is the student’s choice, so long as they do not interfere with another student’s moment of silence. Public schools are prohibited from providing instruction regarding the nature of the moment of silence, other than as provided in this section.

Amends existing law to provide that the commission be established in the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission within the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This consolidation is expected to maximize government efficiencies and deliver improved services to the citizens of Idaho because it will streamline administrative functions, consolidate overlapping responsibilities, and reduce redundant expenditures.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the elimination of vehicle registration stickers.

The purpose of this legislation is to remove the requirement that vehicles display a registration sticker when registration is required. It clarifies that a valid license plate and vehicle registration are sufficient for a vehicle to be lawfully operated on Idaho roadways.

Amends existing law to allow prospective jurors in certain circumstances to volunteer as poll workers in lieu of serving on a jury.

This proposed legislation amends Sections 2-211, 2-212, and 34-303, to allow registered voters the option of serving as a poll worker in lieu of jury duty. The proposed legislation would allow county clerks to request from the jury commission prospective jurors excused from service to serve as poll workers in an upcoming election.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device.

The legislation aims to provide law enforcement increased latitude needed to protect Idaho youth on the internet. Predators use the internet to entice minors to perform unwholesome behaviors. The current law only specifies penalties for perpetrators who prey on children under the age of 16. This legislation extends the definition of “child” to include minors that are 16 or 17 years of age. However, this legislation builds in protection against “Romeo-Juliet” scenarios where the initiator is less than 5 years older than the victim. This is consistent with other Idaho Code. 18-1508A makes it a felony "for any person at least (5) years of age older than a minor child who is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age" to sexually batter such minor child. Similarly, statutory rape applies for 16- and 17-year-old victims only where "the perpetrator is three (3) years or more older than the victim." Idaho Code 18-6101(2). The majority of victims for this kind of crime are 13 to 17 years of age. This legislation allows law enforcement to protect more victims in that age range. This legislation not only expands the age range for victims, in so doing it provides greater protection against exploiting youth (Idaho Code 18-1507).

Adds to existing law to provide for hunting as the state sport.

This legislation allows Idaho to join a growing trend across the country in declaring a state sport. Whereas Hunting is a bastion of the history and culture of Idaho, both as a source of sustenance and recreation, the state sport of Idaho shall be Hunting.