Idaho Bills

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

RS33859 / H0972 This is a FY 2027 trailer appropriation bill for the Department of Health and Welfare. It address the fiscal impact of House Bill 730, which requires changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility system.

Relates to the appropriation and transfer of funds for strategic initiatives and local highway districts.

RS33865 / H0976 This bill is a trailer to House Bill 968. Among other things, House Bill 968 transferred $32 million to the Strategic Initiatives Fund for transportation and capital construction in the state. Pursuant to Section 40-719, Idaho Code, 60% of revenues are split between the Idaho Transportation Department while 40% of revenues are directed to local jurisdictions and highway districts as grants administered by LHTAC. This bill directs the 40% of revenues be directed through the Highway Distribution Fund, instead. For the past few sessions, the Legislature has directed funds for strategic initiatives through the formula rather than grants.

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.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind for fiscal year 2027.

RS33707 / S1408 This appropriation to the Public School Support Program’s Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget, including career ladder equivalent funding to provide IESDB teachers with funding parity since these teachers are not on the state’s career ladder, replacement items for a school bus & van, and a net-zero endowment fund adjustment.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33830 / S1444 This appropriation to the Public School Support Program’s Student Support Division first provides a supplemental to the FY 2026 Original Appropriation and an enhancement to the FY 2027 program maintenance budget, both of which reflect the same addition of federal grant funding. The supplemental represents onetime authority in FY 2026, while the enhancement provides ongoing authority beginning in FY 2027, in order to allow schools to fully access their eligible federal funds. Approximately 91% of federal fund appropriations used by schools are for meal and nutrition grants, Title I-A grants, and special education grants. This appropriation also provides a reduction in discretionary funding for virtual only schools, a fund adjustment to reflect an increase to the Public School Endowment Fund distribution, and a population forecast adjustment to account for the decreased average placement of administrators on the state's experience and education index, as well as decreased usage of border contracts, exceptional child payments, and tuition equivalent payments. Population forecast increases are not adjusted for in this appropriation and if incurred, would be paid for from the Public Education Stabilization Fund.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Student Support for fiscal year 2027.

RS33843 / S1447 This bill provides a trailer appropriation and two onetime cash transfers to the Public School Support Program's Division of Student Support as a result of S1288. S1288 established the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to help address the extraordinary costs associated with students with disabilities who require a level of care that exceeds typical special education expenditures. The fund is subject to appropriation and supports reimbursement for high-cost special education services that are not fully covered through existing federal funding streams.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of the Idaho Digital Learning Academy for fiscal year 2027.

RS33867 / S1452 This is a trailer appropriation to S1362, the Public School Support program maintenance bill as a result of H940, which amended Idaho Code to revise policy regarding the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. Section 2(15) of H940 provides for a minimum fee charge of $100 per enrollment for courses that are not graduation requirements and a maximum fee of $40 for courses required for graduation. This bill amends Section 22 of

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.