Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Adds to existing law to establish provisions requiring certain internet filters on computer devices used by children.
The proposed legislation seeks to fulfill the Government’s compelling interest in protecting children from exposure to harmful material online, and from being groomed by the use of the material into sexual exploitation, abuse, and sex trafficking, while not overburdening Free Speech. This is accomplished by requiring manufacturers of smartphones and tablets to enable existing filters for Idaho’s children. The filters are already there but defaulted to "off." This legislation simply asks manufacturers to turn them only for children. This legislation recognizes the serious harm that comes to children from online pornography exposure and leverages existing technology to empower all Idaho parents to remove this detrimental content from their child’s devices. This bill follows the filtering roadmap approved by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. ACLU, 542 U.S. 656, 670 (2004). Without this legislation it is not possible for all Idaho parents to effectively protect their children from the massive amounts of harmful material inundating them online due to complexity and lack of education. By placing internet filtering requirements at the device level during activation, we automate and simplify an unnecessarily complicated process as the devices move in and out of different Internet networks.
Adds to existing law to establish the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act.
This legislation safeguards freedom of speech and public participation by providing a mechanism to swiftly dismiss meritless lawsuits aimed at stifling public discourse. This legislation protects individuals and organizations from being targeted by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), ensuring that public engagement and expression, especially on matters of societal or community interest, are not hindered by legal intimidation tactics.
15 – 20
Amends existing law to provide that idle moneys may be invested in physical gold and silver in certain instances, to provide for storage of physical gold and silver, and to provide for a maximum allowed investment.
Since the year 2000, the M2 money supply has grown by 350 percent. In other words, it has more than quadrupled. A quadrupling of the money supply will eventually accelerate the rate of inflation. By adding physical gold and silver to Idaho Code § 67-1210, the State Treasurer will be permitted to hold some portion of state funds in physical gold and silver to help secure state assets against the risk of inflation and financial turmoil and/or to achieve capital gains as measured in Federal Reserve Notes. The new authority will be confined to holding gold and silver directly and in a manner that does not assume the counter party risks involved with other current state holdings, such as corporate bonds, treasury bills, and other debt instruments. This measure does not empower the State Treasurer to invest in paper forms of the metal like futures contracts, or other gold and silver derivatives. The authority is confined to physical gold and silver, directly owned by the state and stored in a secure depository or any bank or credit union with a class 1 vault and licensed by the Department of Finance.
Scott Herndon · SD-001
36 – 33
Adds to existing law to provide for fencing when under quarantine, to provide for hunting or slaughter during quarantine, and to provide for the lifting of quarantine.
This address the need to update standards related to the transport and harvest of domestic Cervidae regarding chronic wasting disease.
Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
ThisappropriationtotheDepartmentofHealthandWelfareprovidesenhancementstotheFY2025maintenance budget that includes additional appropriation for Federal Data Services Hub Interface, Child Care Subsidies, and the additional 2% CEC. This bill also includes FY 2024 supplemental appropriations that adjusts the appropriation for a no cost impact for the eligibility verification systems used by the department and funding for LIHEAP Utility Assistance.
Julie VanOrden · SD-030
33 – 32
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Drug Policy for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Office of Drug Policy provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes additional onetime trustee and benefit payments for community models to address opioid issues, funding for the additional 2% change in employee compensation (CEC), and provides reappropriation of specified federal funds.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
25 – 10
Amends existing law to provide for qualification equivalency for certain degree requirements through skills, capabilities, work, or relevant experience.
This bill promotes skills-based hiring for state employees. It prevents the state from using a degree as an arbitrary screening tool and requires that the state evaluate job applicants based on skills and relevant experience. With this bill, applicants can demonstrate the value created by apprenticeships, certificate programs, microcredentials, formal education, prior work experience, and life experiences. The state has already started implementing a skills-based approach, and this bill codifies that practice.
Jim Guthrie · SD-028
35 – 0
Relates to the maintenance appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2025.
This is the FY 2025 Maintenance Appropriation for the Judicial Branch. This bill includes appropriations to Court Operations, Guardian ad Litem, and the Judicial Council. The appropriation includes standard adjustments for benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, and change in employee compensation.
31 – 4
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding personal eligibility conditions to qualify for unemployment benefits.
This legislation would define what qualifies as a “work search” activity that unemployment claimants must engage in to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Specifically, this bill requires claimants to conduct five work search actions per week in order to receive benefits. Idaho currently only requires two work search activities per week as outlined by administrative rule. The legislation also defines “work search” activities and requires these claimants to report to the Department which qualified “work search” activities they have conducted weekly. The final provision in this bill would explicitly prohibit the practice of “ghosting” of an employer interview by unemployment insurance claimants and would require the Department to maintain an email address and web portal for employers to report claimant “ghosting.”
Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to provide that there shall be one round of voting and the person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be deemed to have won an election.
This legislation would provide for a constitutional amendment that would keep our current form of picking the winner of an election in place. Legislative Council may use the following statement for the ballot explanation as to the effect of the question: “This proposed constitutional provision will assure that Idaho’s current form of choosing the winner of an election remains the standard. The winner of an election will be the candidate who received the greatest number of votes. This is how western cultures have picked election winners for 2,500 years. This constitutional amendment would ensure that the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes is the winner of an election.”
Adds to existing law to provide for the crime of aggravated driving while reckless, to provide penalties, and to provide that evidence of conviction shall be admissible in a civil action for damages.
A person shall be quilty of aggravated driving while reckless if he causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to any person other than himself in committing a violation of the provisions of Section 49-1401 (1), Idaho Code.
58 – 12
States findings of the Legislature and supports certain acquisitions of timber and grazing lands.
This resolution encourages the State of Idaho to look for opportunities to buy large plots of land as they come available.
States findings of the Legislature and approves pending rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Idaho Department of Water Resources reviewed by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and the House Resources and Conservation Committee, with exceptions.
This legislation approves Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and Idaho Department of Water Resources Administrative Rules reviewed by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and the House Resources and Conservation Committee with exceptions. This legislation does not include approval of Department of Lands Docket No. 20-0301-2301, and excludes approval of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Docket No. 26-0120-2301, Sections 225., subsection 07., 245., 247., 250., 254., 256., 276.
69 – 0
Amends existing law to provide certain deadlines for producing records pursuant to a public records request.
This bill would differentiate deadlines to provide public records requests made to public agencies. A public agency will have up to ten working days, from the time of request, to provide the public records to an Idaho resident. A public agency will have up to twenty-one working days, from the time of request, to provide the public records made by a non-resident. This will allow more time for public agencies to meet the demand of public records requests, both in quantity and breadth of specific records solicited, while still prioritizing Idaho residents’ requests.
30 – 4
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to modify provisions regarding certified family homes.
The Department of Health and Welfare seeks to update Title 39, Chapter 35 - Idaho Certified Family Homes, Idaho Code. This legislation was put on hold last year as the Governor explored a possible reorganization of the Division of Licensing and Certification under the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. As that contemplated reorganization has been tabled indefinitely, the Department is now resuming the statutory changes to update, clarify, simplify, remove redundant or inconsistent language, enhance resident rights, and give the Department more flexibility in executing its responsibility to provide regulatory oversight to certified family homes in Idaho.
33 – 0
States findings of the Legislature and recognizes Mother's Day through Father's Day as Traditional Family Values Month to raise awareness about the challenges facing traditional families and the alarming rate at which the traditional American family is declining.
This resolution establishes the Traditional Family Values Month. The traditional family is the fundamental building block of civilization, creating stability, health, and prosperity in societies. This legislation recognizes the vital role of the traditional family by designating a month to celebrate, support, and educate on its importance.
59 – 10
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding tax rates, school facilities funding, and school district bond and tax levy elections.
This legislation provides the largest state investment in school facilities through three main avenues. First, it dedicates $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue to the new School Modernization Facilities Fund for bonding, while providing the legislature with expanded options to cover annual service on the bonds in the event of economic downturns. Second, this legislation increases the funding to the School District Facility Fund in two ways. It increases the sales tax revenue directed to the fund from 2.25% to 3.25% which is projected to be $25 million in FY 2025, and redirects existing lottery dividends to the fund, which is projected to be approximately $50 million in FY 2025. This fund will help school districts with paying down school bonds, levies, and plant facility levies, with any remaining funds being used at the district level for additional school facility projects. Third, this legislation reduces income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%, allowing Idahoans to have more money to better support local bonds and levies related to school facilities. Additional changes and technical edits are made to related Code provisions. Combined, this bill provides unprecedented state support for school facility improvements in every school district in the state while ensuring appropriate accountability.
Treg Bernt · SD-021
23 – 11
Amends existing law to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right.
This legislation adds the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act, provides definitions for these terms, and amends the stated purpose of the Act consistent with the legislation's other amendments.
Melissa Wintrow · SD-019
Adds to existing law to establish the Parental Rights in Social Media Act.
This legislation establishes the Parental Rights in Social Media Act. Social media, often designed to encourage habitual use, is associated with mental health issues in minors and can be used by child predators. Many social media companies also collect and profit from the data collected on minors who use their platforms. This legislation empowers parents to protect their children by requiring parental consent for children to open accounts, and gives parents a remedy to hold companies accountable.
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Administrative Hearings for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Office of Administrative Hearings provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes funding for positions related to contested cases at the Department of Health and Welfare, and the additional 2% CEC.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
50 – 20
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes the elimination of the Fair Hearings Unit for cases now being heard at the Office of Administrative Hearings, a civil litigation and constitutional defense attorney, two energy and natural resources attorneys, two Transportation Department attorneys, replacement items, and the additional 2% CEC. This bill also includes a FY 2024 supplemental appropriation for trial costs related to the Tucker v. Public Defense Commission lawsuit.
Dave Lent · SD-033
49 – 20
Adds to existing law to prohibit governmental entities in the State of Idaho from compelling employees and students to use certain titles and pronouns.
This legislation will protect people of Idaho with law that prohibits any government entity in the state of Idaho from compelling any public employee to communicate preferred personal titles or pronouns that do not correspond with biological sex of the individual seeking to be referred to by such title or pronoun. No person should be subject to coercion by any government entity in the state of Idaho to communicate in any way statements that such person prefers not to communicate. A government entity that compels speech would deprive persons the fundamental right to free speech guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.
25 – 9
Amends existing law to revise the definition of an employee.
This legislation amends the definition of “employee” for the purposes of PERSI enrollment to exclude seasonal employees of soil and water conservation districts in positions that do not exceed eight consecutive months in a calendar year if the employer certifies in writing that the position is seasonal or casual and is affected by weather. This definition already applies to seasonal golf course, park, or other positions in cities, counties, irrigation districts, cemetery districts, and mosquito abatement districts.
70 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding salaries of judges, to establish the Citizens' Committee on Judicial Compensation, and to establish provisions regarding judicial compensation as determined by the Citizens' Committee on Judicial Compensation.
Low rates of judicial compensation continue to exacerbate the Judicial Branch’s growing recruitment problem. Pay for Idaho’s judges not only ranks near dead-last nationally, but also now fails to compete with the compensation of other Idaho public sector attorneys. In order to address this serious issue and ensure experienced, high-quality candidates apply for judicial service, this bill seeks to: (1) significantly increase salaries for all judicial positions over a four (4) year span, and (2) create a Citizens’ Committee on Judicial Compensation to establish future judicial salaries. Specifically, this proposal will amend I.C. § 59-502 to increase the salary of supreme court justices by 10% in 2025 and revise the pay differentials between judicial positions to a percentage basis in order to avoid future compression. Accordingly, the corresponding 2025 increases will be 9.8% for court of appeals judges, 8.2% for district judges, and 7.9% for magistrate judges. Thereafter, each judicial position will receive an additional 5% salary increase in 2026, 2027, and 2028. In 2022, a pay increase for Idaho’s judges was tied to a policy proposal to revise the judicial selection process. That proposal failed to become law, and as a result, Idaho’s judges were the only state employees not to receive an increase in compensation. Similarly, judicial CEC has been tied to a policy proposal this year. In order to separate the question of judicial compensation from political considerations, and in an effort to allow a more thorough assessment of the need for future increases in judicial salaries, this bill also seeks to create a Citizens’ Committee on Judicial Compensation. This Committee is modeled specifically after the Citizens’ Committee on Legislative Compensation established in I.C. § 67-406a, and it will consist of three (3) citizen members appointed by the Governor and three (3) citizen members appointed by agreement of the Pro Tem and Speaker. The Committee will establish th
Relates to the appropriation to the Legislative Services Office for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to Legislative Services Office provides an additional enhancement to the FY 2025 budget that includes funding for Legislative Impact Reviews. Legislative Impact Reviews will help the Legislature determine how well state government provides services to the citizens of the state.
Scott Grow · SD-014
69 – 0