Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services.

RS33556C1 / H0888 This legislation places information technology procurement within the Office of Information Technology Services (“ITS”). ITS houses the experts for IT services for the state of Idaho. Under this legislation, ITS will be required to consult with an agency head about the needs of the department, conduct an analysis of the IT equipment or service needed, and then procure the IT product or service for the department. That analysis may be conducted by a third party so long as the third party does not charge the Office and certain safeguards are adhered to. The Office may also enter into a MOU to continue using the Department of Administration, Division of Purchasing for procurements. When ITS is not using the Division of Purchasing, it is exempt under that chapter.

Relates to the appropriation from the Idaho Millennium Income Fund for fiscal year 2027.

RS33749 / H0942 This is the FY 2027 appropriation bill for the Idaho Millennium Income Fund based on the recommendation of the Joint Legislative Millennium Fund Committee pursuant to Section 67-1806, Idaho Code. The Millennium Funds are moneys received from tobacco companies as part of the Master Settlement Agreement that requires tobacco companies to pay states a calculated amount each year in perpetuity to account for lies made regarding the health issues with tobacco use. Each year Idaho receives about $24 million from the settlement. Moneys are used pursuant to the appropriation with the stated intent of providing services for Idaho's youth for behavioral health programs. For FY 2027, funding is recommended as follows: -$150,000 ongoing to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Kamiah Recovery Center (Upriver Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center) to strengthen health outcomes and broaden access to recovery tools. -$692,200 onetime to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Idaho Children's Trust Fund to subgrant funds for community-based projects to strengthen families and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect. -$1,000,000 onetime to the Department of Juvenile Corrections to support Idaho's existing Safe Teen Assessment Centers by stabilizing staffing and core operations across 12 centers. -$3,000,000 onetime to the Department of Health and Welfare to support 10 children's advocacy centers. -$5,000,000 onetime to the Office of Drug Policy to fund a statewide drug awareness media campaign. In addition to the recommendations made by the Joint Legislative Millennium Fund Committee, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a onetime $30,000 appropriation to the Department of Juvenile Corrections to restore funding for statewide training and coordination for school resource officers (SRO's).

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding requirements for open public meetings to permit recording of such meetings.

RS33699 / H0894 THIS Legislation amends Idaho Code Section 74-203, to revise provisions regarding requirements for open public meetings. The bill adds a section to current law that no person attending the open meeting shall be prevented or prohibited from recording such meetings by audio, video, photographs by electronic, digital or other means. The governing body may take measures, however, to ensure the orderly conduct of its meetings. This section exempts any executive session, meetings or hearings in a facility operated by the Idaho Department of Corrections, Idaho Department of juvenile corrections; or meetings or hearings conducted by the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole.

Relates to the funding of the Idaho Transportation Department for fiscal year 2027.

RS33769 / S1426 This appropriation to the Idaho Transportation Department provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget. This bill includes funding for deferred maintenance projects, tree removal, new equipment, airfield improvements, aeronautics facilities maintenance, a budget neutral program transfer for health benefits costs, additional operations and maintenance, provides appropriation for Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition for available projected revenue, replacement items, and OITS hardware. This bill provides for reappropriation for the Aeronautics Program, the Capital Facilities Program and the Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition Program. Lastly it makes an adjustment to financial statements and corrects the fund source for expenditures in FY 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Adds to existing law to require public schools to offer daily recess to students in kindergarten through grade 5 and to encourage public schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for students in grades 6 through 8.

RS33724 / H0915 This legislation adds a new section of code to require public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through grade five and encourage schools to provide unstructured activity breaks for students in grades six through eight. This aligns with extensive evidence that recess is not a luxury but a necessary component of healthy child development including boosting learning, behavior, health and happiness. This legislation also provides that recess cannot be withheld from an entire class as a form of discipline.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for attendance at child protection hearings.

This legislation changes who is allowed in the court room during child protection hearings. Currently, the public is excluded from attending. This exclusion includes key figures who have an interest in the wellbeing of the child. A judge would need to find good cause to exclude those listed and make a written record of that finding. Those to be included: the department, parents, guardians, legal custodians, tribal representatives, assigned guardians ad litem, the assigned prosecuting attorney or deputy attorney general, elected state legislators, counsel for each of these entities.

Relates to the appropriation to the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33813 / H0949 This appropriation provides for the consolidation of the STEM Action Center and the Workforce Development Council (WDC). The bill includes a FY 2026 rescission to the STEM Action Center's existing budget for closing out an existing contract, moving most of the FY 2027 maintenance budget from STEM Action Center to the Workforce Development Council, and providing an increase to the Workforce Development Council for an existing contract.

States findings of the Legislature and requests federal action.

RS33594 / HJM018 The purpose of this joint memorial is to urge the United States Congress to prohibit unauthorized geoengineering and atmospheric modification activities conducted over the State of Idaho without state approval, public disclosure, or transparency. This memorial asserts Idaho's responsibility under the Tenth Amendment to protect public health, private property, agriculture, and environmental integrity from potential harm caused by intentional atmospheric interventions, including weather modification and solar radiation management. It expresses concern that such activities may occur without sufficient oversight, consent, or evaluation of long-term impacts on human health, livestock, crops, ecosystems, and weather stability. The memorial calls upon Congress to establish clear prohibitions and penalties for unauthorized geoengineering activities, ensure coordination with state and federal enforcement agencies, and respect state sovereignty over activities conducted within and above Idaho's borders.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the sale of cigars.

This legislation allows for an entrepreneur to create a business that provides a mobile cigar service for events. This type of business was not anticipated when the tobacco permitting statutes were originally written. Therefore, the department cannot currently issue a permit for this potential business.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the withdrawal of certain taxing districts from an urban renewal revenue allocation area financing provision.

This legislation amends the laws affecting Urban Renewal Districts (URD). In 2025, HB436 allowed Fire Districts to withdraw from of an existing URD if the district does not have any outstanding financial obligations. This legislation clarifies that process.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

This legislation establishes a unified, Division wide disciplinary framework for all boards, commissions, committees, and programs administered by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. By consolidating duplicative and inconsistent disciplinary provisions currently scattered across numerous practice acts, the bill creates a single procedural section that standardizes how complaints are processed, how investigations are conducted, what due process protections apply, and how sanctions are imposed. While substantive grounds for discipline will continue to be defined in each profession’s governing statute or standards of practice, this new framework ensures consistency in enforcement processes across all licensed professions regulated by the Division. The proposal preserves and clarifies key enforcement tools such as subpoenas, injunctions, license suspensions, administrative fines, and confidential informal resolutions while ensuring they are applied consistently. It also affirms DOPL’s jurisdiction over expired licenses, permits action against licensees who fail to cooperate with investigations, and provides mechanisms for referring serious violations for criminal prosecution. Complaint intake and file management procedures are formalized to improve transparency, accuracy, and administrative efficiency. All formal discipline will continue to proceed under the contested case provisions of the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act, ensuring due process rights are maintained.

States findings of the Legislature and calls on Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

This memorial affirms the Idaho Legislature's commitment to the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and accountability to the people in light of the nation's persistent deficit spending and a national debt exceeding $38 trillion. Recognizing that long-term fiscal instability threatens future generations of Americans, the Legislature calls on the Idaho federal delegation to lead and for Congress to exercise its constitutional authority under Article V to propose a Balanced Budget Amendment through the established and time-tested amendment process initiated by Congress and ratified by the states.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding career technical education certificates.

This legislation seeks to improve the recruitment and retention of industry professionals within Career Technical Education (CTE) programs by setting a reasonable threshold of experience required when a professional is seeking a certificate to teach a specific CTE context area. By eliminating the minimum hours of professional experience required, this legislation allows the State Board of Career Technical Education to establish minimum requirements for CTE programs by specific content area, rather than a blanket requirement for all programs. This will further allow the board to engage with industry stakeholders to adjust the requirements to be responsive to industry demand and needs. Finally, because minimum professional experience currently exists in both statute and administrative rules, eliminating those requirements in statue will prevent further confusion as to how the requirements are meant to work together. Moving forward, the board will promulgate rules for requirements by content area, which will then be reviewed and approve by the Legislature.

States findings of the Legislature and establishes an interim committee to study the crime of sextortion and to make recommendations to the Legislature.

The proposed concurrent resolution would establish a legislative interim committee to study the crime of sextortion, its impact on victims, and strategies for prevention and response. The interim committee would examine how sextortion is carried out, its effects, particularly on minors, and review existing statutes to determine whether changes are needed to protect our youth. The Legislative Council would determine the interim committee's membership, including legislators from both parties and representatives from relevant agencies such as the Attorney General’s Office, the Idaho Department of Education, and the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline. The interim committee would also be authorized to gather input from stakeholders and affected individuals and would report its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the First Regular Session of the Sixty-ninth Idaho Legislature.

Amends existing law to eliminate proration of the homestead property tax exemption.

RS33557 / H0843 This legislation amends Section 63-602G, Idaho Code, relating to the homeowner’s property tax exemption. The bill removes provisions requiring the exemption to be prorated when the eligibility status of a property changes during the tax year. Under current law, when a property becomes eligible or ineligible for the homestead exemption during the year, the exemption amount may be prorated based on the number of days the property qualified for the exemption. This process has been inconsistently applied and has been difficult to administer in practice. This legislation provides that the full exemption amount shall apply as of January 1 of the tax year in which a complete application is submitted and approved and eliminates the requirement that the exemption be prorated. The bill maintains the existing requirement that applications must be submitted by the last business day of the year to receive the exemption for the current tax year. Applications received after the second Monday in July will continue to be granted as tax cancellations rather than adjustments to the property roll.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide when wastewater corporations may be a public utility.

RS33719 / S1397 This legislation will amend Title 61 The Public Utilities Act and authorize the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to regulate privately owned wastewater (sewer) utilities essentially the same as it regulates privately owned water utilities. Privately owned sewer utilities are natural monopolies (operated for profit) of an essential public service. This legislation will ensure privately owned sewer utility services are provided in a safe and reliable manner and set reasonable rates, and non-discriminatory service rules that are “just and reasonable” to ensure the ongoing viability of the public service and protect Idaho consumers from unfair rates, charges, and business practices.

Repeals existing law relating to the Idaho Anti-Camcorder Piracy Act, the Tape Piracy Act, and the Motion Picture Fair Bidding Act.

This legislation repeals Chapter 69, Chapter 76, and Chapter 77 of Title 18, Idaho Code, which address the Idaho Anti-Camcorder Piracy Act, the Tape Piracy Act, and the Motion Picture Fair Bidding Act. These provisions are outdated and no longer necessary for effective enforcement. Repealing these chapters removes obsolete statutes from Idaho Code and improves statutory clarity without impacting public safety.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

RS33808 / H0940 This legislation establishes updated policy governing the operation of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) and clarifies its role as a supplemental provider of online courses for Idaho public school students. The bill reaffirms IDLA’s core mission of filling instructional gaps by offering courses for remediation, courses that may not otherwise be available in small or rural school districts, courses required for graduation, and overload courses. The legislation eliminates certain program offerings that fall outside this core mission, including custom section arrangements that allow for duplicate funding, participation by virtual schools, driver’s education courses, and programs serving kindergarten through fifth grade students. The bill further directs that IDLA services be focused on students in grades six through twelve. Additionally, the bill establishes minimum fees for courses required for graduation and for elective courses, and sets a cap of $445 in state funding per course. While the legislation limits certain categories of users eligible for state-supported enrollment, it preserves the ability for any approved IDLA user to enroll in courses by paying the full course fee.

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

RS33729 / S1401 This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Division of Public Health Services provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include appropriations for the Idaho Home Visiting Program; the restoration of the Immunization Assessment Fund; Fee for Service Laboratory Testing; ARPA Funded Multi-Year Grants; HIV Prevention and Surveillance; Hepatitis Prevention and Surveillance; restore funding to the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program; and reduces the budget to move the Idaho Home Visiting Program to the Division of Early Learning and Development.

Amends existing law to provide that cities with 25,000 residents or less may provide for election of councilmen by districts and that cities with greater than 25,000 residents shall provide for the election of councilmen by districts.

This legislation revises Idaho Code 50-707A, requiring that cities with populations greater than 25,000 conduct district wide elections for its city council elections.

Amends existing law to provide that procedures used in an execution shall not be subject to certain provisions of law.

This legislation amends parts of Title 19, Chapter 27, Idaho Code to extend legal protections from discovery or disclosure of certain persons and entities to carry out the death penalty by lethal injection to certain persons and entities to carry out the death penalty by firing squad. Death penalty by firing squad will become the primary method of execution beginning July 1, 2026.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Water Resources for fiscal year 2027.

RS33812 / S1431 This bill provides additional funds to the Department of Water Resources to the FY 2027. It includes funding for aquifer monitoring and measuring and restores funding that was removed from the maintenance appropriation as part of the ongoing 5% Base Reduction. These restorations include funding for stream gaging and personnel costs related two positions within the North Idaho Adjudication and Bear River Basin Adjudication programs. This budget also includes language allowing the reappropriation of federal funds to pay for projects are they are completed and language directing the use the treatment of filing fees collected during the adjudication process.

Amends existing law to revise the penalty for soliciting commercial sexual activity.

This legislation makes soliciting commercial sexual activity a felony for anyone 21 years or older on a first offense. Current law provides for charging a misdemeanor for the first offense, followed by a felony for the second offense.