Idaho Bills

Amends and repeals existing law to remove provisions that the Department of Health and Welfare has identified as obsolete or superfluous.

Thissummer, DHWundertookathoroughreviewofthehundredsofsectionsofIdahoCodethatmentionDHW or the Director of the Department, looking for outdated, obsolete, or unnecessary full code sections. This bill repeals nearly 150 sections of code that were deemed outdated, obsolete, or unnecessary as a result of that review, making this bill likely the largest repeal bill in Idaho history.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Tax Commission for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the State Tax Commission provides enhancements to the FY 2026 budget that includes funding for a contract to process certified mail, additional staffing and funding for the implementation and operation of the Parental Choice Tax Credit program pursuant to House Bill 93, and onetime funding for replacement items and IT hardware.

Amends existing law to provide for data security compliance training for systems used by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

This legislation grants the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) authority to control access to source systems and authorizes the department to require fingerprint background checks in accordance with REAL ID certification standards. This will safeguard the personal information of all Idaho citizens.

States findings of the Legislature and reaffirms support for state-based title insurance regulation.

The federal government has signaled plans that would undermine the current state-based title insurance structure that has served consumers well for decades. These proposals are federal overreach and would erode federalism and be a blow to small businesses in the states. Examples are the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s announcement of a “Title Acceptance Pilot” which would permit title insurance obtainment requirements to be waived in certain transactions. Updates to Government-Sponsored Enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) Selling Guides to allow the use of attorney opinion letters in lieu of title insurance for certain loans. This resolution affirms support for the existing state-based system of title insurance regulation where Congress has continually affirmed the primacy of state-based insurance regulation, including in the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945 and most recently in the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the placement of a child in congregate care settings and to provide for regular review of placements.

This legislation builds on the reforms for congregate care approved by the Idaho Legislature in 2024. It retains the two-week review for children placed in short-term rentals. The legislation then establishes a 90-day review for children in a licensed facility, including a qualified residential treatment program and licensed children's facilities. Both reviews assess the child's safety, treatment needs, facility services, treatment plan, overall progress, discharge plan, and progress towards discharge. Review must also include whether placement in a less restrictive residence can happen safely. If the review finds the placement meets the needs of the child, the director approves it. If the review reveals the placement is inappropriate, the director must find a new and appropriate placement for the child within 14 days. These changes do not apply to children in foster homes, the homes of their parents or legal guardians, or a correctional facility.

Adds to existing law to provide for a distraction-free learning policy.

Extensive scientific research has identified mobile devices as detrimental to students' learning. This legislation requires that all school districts assess the impact of mobile device use on students and develop policies that promote distraction-free learning. It grants local school districts the flexibility to create policies tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.

Amends existing law to exempt UTVs that are equipped with a roll cage and seat belts from safety helmet requirements.

ThislegislationamendsSection49-666,IdahoCode,toestablishanexemptionforpersonsundereighteenyears of age from the requirement to wear a helmet when riding in UTVs equipped with a roll cage and seat belts.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding brewers' licenses.

Thisamendmentensuresthatout-of-statesmallbrewersareheldtothesamestandardsasin-statesmallbrewers and the out-of-state small brewers are given no additional advantages. It clarifies that small brewers must have a physical, in-state presence. Maintaining a physical presence is paramount in the interest of protecting the health, safety and welfare of Idaho citizens and for the establishment of an orderly marketplace. Such physical presence achieves unquestionable jurisdiction, provides immediate accountability for suppliers and provides the ability for regulators to remove bad actors and unsafe products from the market. Such physical presence allows for physical inspections, which are statutorily required by Idaho law including, but not limited to, the Idaho State Police, Division of Alcohol Beverage Control, the Idaho State Tax Commission, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Relates to the appropriation to the Military Division and the Department of Health and Welfare for the Public Health Services Division for fiscal year 2026.

ThisisatrailerappropriationtotheMilitaryDivisionandthePublicHealthServicesDivisionintheDepartment of Health and Welfare for the impact of House Bill 206. House Bill 206 transferred the Emergency Medical Services program, less Preparedness and Response, from the Public Health Services Division to the Military Division and this bill provides adjustments to appropriations to complete that transfer. The appropriation for the Preparedness and Response program is transferred to the Physical Health budgeted program in the Public Health Services Division.

States findings of the Legislature and requests Idaho work with the federal government to reform certain federal acts that impede the production and processing of minerals in Idaho.

This Senate Joint Memorial exemplifies the vast mineral resources that Idaho has and the economic opportunities that mineral extraction and processing offers. Streamlining the permitting process at the State and federal level is vital to the success of the mining industry. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on mineral projects in order to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards; and mining companies still face endless litigation. The United States has some of the highest environmental, safety, and health standards in the world. It is of the utmost importance that the State of Idaho work with the new Trump Administration in streamlining permitting reform, use of public lands, and encourage domestic mining and mineral processing activities in the United States.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding certified registered nurse anesthetists.

This legislation clarifies the scope of practice, responsibilities, and liability protections for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in Idaho. CRNAs provide the full spectrum of anesthesia services to patients with awiderangeofhealthconditions. CRNAspracticeineverysettinginwhichanesthesiaisprovidedandareoften the sole anesthesia provider in many rural counties in Idaho. Since 2002, Idaho has recognized the independent practice of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), becoming the third state in the nation to remove thephysiciansupervisionrequirement. Thislegislationreaffirmstheirautonomousroleinanesthesiacarewhile ensuring appropriate liability protections for physicians.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the adjustment of line license tax allocations, the expenditures of reclamation funds, voluntary contributions, the establishment of an advisory committee, the responsibilities of the department of lands, and the setting of reclamation priorities.

The changes in this bill provide additional monies from the Idaho Mine License Tax for the use in the Abandoned Mine Land Fund and provides for voluntary contributions to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. Voluntary contributions from mining companies can be considered as part of the required environmental or natural resource requirements for new or expanded mining operations. The bill also specifies what percentage of funds must be spent on direct reclamation activities. The bill requires the Idaho Department of Lands to prioritize abandoned mine sites as to actions needed, to provide an annual report of how funds were expended (by eligible site) and actual progress made (by eligible site). Finally, the bill creates an advisory committee to provide guidance to the department of Lands on priorities of eligible sites for reclamation and planned reclamation actions.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide certain property tax exemptions for certain utilities and to provide for a tax on rate-regulated electric companies and gas companies.

This proposed legislation would replace the property tax on electric utilities with a tax based on kilowatt hours sold. It also would replace the property tax on gas companies with a tax based on therms sold.

Relates to the appropriation to the Industrial Commission for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Industrial Commission provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget thatincludesfundingforamaintenancecontractfortheIndustrialCommission'sredesignedinformationsystem (IRIS)project,financialtechnicianreclassification,refereepositionfunding,andOITShardware. Alsoincluded is a net-zero appropriation shift for FY 2025 for IRIS cost allocation. The Industrial Commission requested $32,300 for a rehabilitation field consultant, $25,500 to reclassify adjudication associates, $62,300 for a technical records specialist, $30,000 for an IRIS contingency fund, and $132,000 for replacement vehicles. These enhancement items do not receive funding in this bill.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education for community colleges for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to Community Colleges provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget. Thisappropriationprovidesanadditional$1,679,800tothemaintenanceappropriationprovidedtoCommunity Colleges found in House Bill 341 that includes additional funding for the enrollment workload adjustment and requires the Office of the State Board of Education to develop an outcomes based funding model for the Community Colleges. Table 1 shows incremental adjustments to the budget found in the bill, of which the ongoing increase is $1,679,800. Table 2 shows the adjustments leading to the FY 2026 Total. The total budget for the Community Colleges is $69,219,700 and provides support to the College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, and North Idaho College.