Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Amends existing law to allow students of majority age to submit a signed statement for exemption from immunizations requirements.
This legislation is intended to address two issues. The first is the 12th grade immunization requirement for which there is no exemption when a student is age 18 during their 12th grade school year. The requirement can be found in IDAPA 16.02.15.100.06.c. The second is to prevent colleges and universities in the state of Idaho from infringing on the privacy rights of students by requiring vaccination status or the disclosure of confidentialmedicalinformationasconditionsofenrollmentorattendance. Theexemptionscurrentlydescribed in §39-4802, §39-1118, and IDAPA 16.02.15.110 apply only to minor children and require parent or legal guardian signature.
28 – 7
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the right to certain medical liens, to update a provision regarding perfection of such liens, and to provide that liens shall relate to the value of services or treatments provided.
Extending the time for filing a medical lien until after a citizen's health insurance has had the chance to process the medical costs ensuring that medical providers get paid a fair value for their services. This also modernizes the1941medicallienstatutetomakeitconsistentwithrecentIdahomedicalbillingstatutes. Thishelpspatients bymakingsurethatthosewhohavepurchasedmedicalinsurancereceivethebenefitstheyhavepurchasedwhile still protecting medical providers.
Chris Trakel · SD-011
Amends existing law to exempt certain farming equipment from sales tax.
This legislation clarifies that the structures and equipment used in the storage of small grains are exempt from sales taxes, including augers, dryers, fans, sweep augers, as well as equipment and supplies used in quality control functions.
34 – 1
Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho State Historical Society for fiscal year 2025.
ThisisaFY2025appropriationbillfortheIdahoStateHistoricalSociety. Itappropriatesatotalof$10,470,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 59.00. The bill also provides appropriation to meet the service needs at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, to ensure agency operations continue without audit findings, and provides language regarding the accountability of appropriated funds.
Amends existing law to increase the Advanced Opportunities funding for both public school students and nonpublic school students, to remove a spending cap for certain eligible courses, and to revise provisions regarding the administration of the program for nonpublic school students.
This legislation amends Idaho code section 33-4602 to increase the amount of advanced opportunity funds per publicschoolstudentby$500, from$4,125to$4,625toassiststudentswhoareworkingtoachieveanassociate degree while still in high school through the attainment of dual credits. There are just under 600 students who have maxed out their advanced opportunity funding. This legislation also removes the restrictive expenditure caps on CTE workforce training courses. This legislation amends Idaho code section 33-4603 to increase the amount of advanced opportunity funds per non-public school student from by $1,750, from $750 to $2,500 and modifies the payment structure to allow for the State Department of Education to pay the Idaho higher education institutions directly for dual credit courses taken by non-public students. There are just under 300 non-public students participating in this program.
66 – 2
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish the Accelerating Public Charter Schools Act to provide for public charter schools that operate independently from traditional schools.
The Accelerating Public Charter Schools Act updates Idaho’s Charter School laws. In 1998, the Idaho Legislature passed the Idaho Charter School law to allow charter schools to operate in Idaho. Idaho now has 74 charter schools serving 10% or approximately 30,000 children. While there have been several amendments to the charter school laws over the years, nothing substantial has been introduced to incorporate the majority of what we have learned in the past 26 years. This legislation does that.
James Ruchti · SD-029
32 – 1
Amends existing law to provide an exception to residency requirements in certain adoption proceedings.
Children in foster care may be adopted by families and relatives who do not live in Idaho. According to Section 16-1506, Idaho Code, before a family can petition a court for adoption in Idaho they must reside in and maintain a dwelling in Idaho for six (6) consecutive months. It is in the best interest of foster children and the state that adoptions do not require an out-of-state family to reside in Idaho for six (6) consecutive months. This requirement delays a permanent home for some children and keeps the state involved with children and adoptive families lives longer than is required or helpful. In some cases, adoption and the permanent home have been delayed for years. This change allows children to achieve timely permanency the court has sufficient information about the child and family to finalize the adoption.
65 – 0
Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for the adoption of a certain electrical code, to provide for certain modifications to the electrical code, and to prohibit local governments from requiring certain installations.
This legislation codifies certain exemptions to the 2023 Electrical Code, which was adopted by the Legislature last legislative session. It also prevents any city, county, or any other political subdivision from requiring the installation of an electric vehicle circuit as part of any new construction.
46 – 23
Adds to existing law to establish equitable billing practices for 340B drugs and covered entities.
The Affordable Prescription Drug Cost Act restores the integrity of the 340B Drug Discount Program by ensuring fair reimbursement to Idaho’s 340B covered entities and contract pharmacies. This legislation prohibits Pharmacy Benefit Managers from placing any burdensome restrictions on a 340B covered entity or contract pharmacy that would not be placed equally on a non-340B covered entity or non-contract pharmacy. Additionally, this legislation safeguards Idahoans’ choices for pharmacy selection, and preserves independent pharmacies, by prohibiting drug manufacturers from restricting which pharmacies can receive drugs purchased under the 340B program.
Amends existing law to establish requirements regarding the vacation of public rights-of-way that furnish access to state or federal public lands or waters.
This legislation amends section 40-203 of Idaho Code regarding the abandonment of roads and public rights-of-way. Abandonment involves a lengthy process for the county or the highway district in which a public road is being abandoned. For the cases where the public road accesses public lands or waters, this legislation adds to the process so that evidence of such access can be presented. For those public roads that do access public lands and waters, this amendment to 40-203 requires that a replacement public access be provided, even if that public access is provided at private expense, before the abandonment can be completed. The replacements cannot be provided through the use of eminent domain nor condemnation, and this legislation will not affect any road vacations currently underway or currently being litigated.
33 – 2
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding teacher spending accounts.
This bill creates “teacher spending accounts” to help offset costs educators incur for things like classroom supplies and materials, and organizational. Idaho teachers spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars, a year out of their own pockets to provide basic supplies for their classrooms. This bill creates a vehicle to address that problem by directing the State Department of Education to develop a plan and process to distribute money directly to teachers to defray costs for classroom-related expenses. None of the funds can be used for administration at the school or district level, and the money goes straight to the classroom.
Amends and repeals existing law to remove provisions regarding child labor.
Youth employment is currently hampered by a legacy of restrictive regulation in Idaho. Other states like Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas have passed legislation to liberate young adults to go to work and to build the economicopportunityintheirstates’tightlabormarkets. Thisbillwillfreeworkerstoworkatyoungerages,get employment in jobs currently restricted, and help employers get the workers they need at lower costs. The bill will untie labor restrictions from public education constraints because many young workers are home-schooled or attend alternative education models that do not follow the traditional public education times and days. The bill, while prohibiting exploitation, will be encouraging to any enterprising young kid who wants to work, and does so without sacrificing basic education.
Amends and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding management of sexual offenders and standards for treatment providers and to authorize the creation of an advisory panel regarding sexual offender management.
This bill replaces the Sexual Offender Management Board (SOMB). Instead, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) is required to create an advisory panel to do the work of the SOMB. The SOMB does not manage or supervise sexual offenders, rather it sets and oversees standards for treatment providers that serve sexual offenders (e.g., licensed psychiatrists, licensed mental health professionals, polygraphers, etc.). These professionals (except for polygraphers) are already licensed by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. IDOC will continue to set and oversee standards for professionals who provide treatment services to sexual offenders. IDOC will establish an advisory panel to advise IDOC on standards. IDOC is also expressly required to work together with Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections on standards for service providers who work with juveniles. This bill also removes the processing fee for providers. In recent years there has been a shortage of providers. This fee removal decreases the regulatory burden for these professionals.
Adds to existing law to require the State Treasurer to compile and prepare a report of state moneys invested in a foreign adversary.
Idaho’s public investment dollars should not be used to fund our foreign adversaries. This proposed legislation is a first step in divesting of such investments by identifying how many public investment dollars are currently invested in foreign adversaries. This legislation requires a report from the state treasurer next January showing such amounts.
35 – 0
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Office of Health and Social Services ombudsman.
This legislation establishes an office of the health and social services ombudsman to monitor and evaluate the compliance of public agencies and private entities in the provision of health and social services policy for children under the care of the state. and vulnerable adults. • The ombudsman will respond to claims related to services provided to children in foster care, protective supervision, or residential treatment facilities in Idaho. •Theofficeoperatesindependentlyofthelegislature, thecourts, theDepartmentofHealthandWelfare(DHW), and other state agencies. • The ombudsman will establish and manage a procedure for receiving, examining, and resolving complaints. • The office will also ensure that service recipients know their legal rights under Idaho and federal law. • The office will produce an annual report on its work, the status of child welfare and adult protective services, alongwithanyrecommendationstothegovernor,thelegislature,thedirectorofDHW,thestatepublicdefender, the courts, and all other relevant state departments. • Complaints submitted to the ombudsman can include events where an agency’s behavior was 1) contrary to law, rule, or policy; 2) imposed without adequate reason; or 3) based on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds. • Complaints can be submitted by the service recipient and other biological and legal representatives. • For any individual who interferes or impedes the ombudsman with the duties of the office or retaliates against anyone who files a complaint, that individual will be guilty of a misdemeanor, which includes a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail term of up to six months.
Kelly Anthon · SD-027
50 – 20
Amends existing law to provide immunity for employers who allow or do not prohibit employees to lawfully carry firearms.
This legislation furthers the protection of employers’ immunity of firearm storage by employees by adding immunity to when allowing employees to carry.
60 – 9
Amends existing law to revise penalties for a failure to possess required motor vehicle insurance and to provide for the towing of a vehicle in certain circumstances.
This bill would accomplish several things. First, it would reiterate in code that peace officers can give warnings for not carrying automobile insurance as some individuals fail to carry simply for not realizing it lapsed at the end of the year, giving some grace while also putting them on notice. Second, if an individual has three warnings, that individual demonstrated they disregarded the warnings and laws for the road and must have their vehicle towed as they are a danger on the road. Thirdly, if an uninsured individual is in a wreck, their vehicle will be towed regardless of who is at fault. Lastly, this bill raises the first-time offense penalty for driving without insurance from $75.00 to $200.00. Currently, Idaho has the lowest first-time fine of any state that has fines for driving without insurance (there are a couple of states with no fine or a reinstatement fee). Additionally, Idaho was ranked as having the cheapest automobile insurance in the United States by a Forbes advisor article, published in October 2023.
Rod Furniss · HD-031B
Amends and adds to existing law to include instruction for current adoption practices.
If a local school district decides to have a family life and sex education program, this legislation would have them include information on adoption for the well-being of a child.
64 – 2
Adds to existing law to clarify the duties of the state board of land commissioners in the lease of state endowment trust lands, to require bonds under certain circumstances, and to provide for rulemaking.
ThislegislationrequirestheBoardofLandsandtheDepartmentofLandstodeveloppolicyguidanceforleasing activities. Leases must include terms and conditions that ensure sustainable management and stewardship in line with the type of use. Some land use types may require a bond to ensure reclamation and restoration.
34 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding public defense for indigent persons in this state.
Prior to establishment of the Office of the State Public Defender in 2023, counties were responsible to pay for representation for indigent individuals. This legislation provides clarification that the Office of the State Public Defender now has responsibility to provide coverage and payment for representation for which counties had responsibility prior to the creation of the Office of the State Public Defender, as well as any statutorily required coverage. This bill also creates a fund to coordinate statewide payments for Guardian Ad Litem representation previously paid by individual counties. A separate account is necessary to ensure a delineation from any funds for representation of indigent individuals in other cases.
69 – 0
Amends existing law to provide for the use of development impact fees for school facilities.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide public school districts with the authority to collect development impact fees. Development impact fees collected by public school districts would be limited in their use to capital improvements. By giving public school districts this ability, the ability for new growth to pay for itself is increased and the need for public school districts to use bonding authority to raise funds for capital improvements may be reduced. Consequentially, the property tax burden on property taxpayers within the affected school district may decrease as a result of decreased need for public school districts to utilize their bonding authority
Lauren Necochea · HD-019A
Relates to the maintenance appropriation to Public Safety for fiscal year 2025.
This is the FY 2025 Maintenance Appropriation for Public Safety. This bill includes appropriations to the Department Correction, Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Idaho State Police. The appropriation includes standard adjustments for benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, and change in employee compensation.
Ben Adams · SD-012
57 – 10
Amends and adds to existing law to provide requirements for launch and transport of conveyances and to provide that a portion of annual revenue deposited in the invasive species fund may be made available to counties, cities, and other local entities for certain equipment and supplies.
This legislation amends Idaho Code § 22-1904 to further define "conveyance" as "retail or wholesale products, or water known to carry or have a reasonable possibility of carrying invasive species." Up to twenty percent of the invasive species fund's annual revenue is also to be made available by the department to counties, cities, or other local entities for equipment and supply costs necessary for the operation of watercraft inspection stations. Additionally, thislegislationcreatesanewsectionofcoderequiringimmediateremovalofvegetationandwater drainage from conveyances. Nonresidential vehicles must also carry an invasive species sticker and must be inspected at a watercraft inspection station prior to launch.
54 – 14
Adds to existing law to provide for equality in financial services.
This legislation prohibits large financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on their political or religious views. It applies only to banks with assets over $100,000,000,000 or payment processing companies that process over $100,000,000,000 per year. These institutions would be prohibited from using social credit scores or any nonfinancial criteria. Social credit scores do not include assessing financial risks based on impartial and quantifiable financial risk-based standards. If a customer is denied access to financial services, he or she has the right to request the reason for the denial from the financial institution. Enforcement of the legislation resides with the Attorney General.
58 – 10
Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes funding and FTP for court technology support, statewide administrative support, Guardian Ad Litem support, Judicial Council support, replacement items, and the additional 2% CEC.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
26 – 8