Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding irrigation district hearings.

Landowners may petition to be excluded from an irrigation district. Such petitions are reviewed by the board of directors, which will determine whether to grant the exclusion request. This amendment provides clear timelines for an irrigation district’s review and response to petitions for exclusion.

Amends existing law to revise the name of a fund and to revise a definition.

This bill modernizes outdated language and ensures that recipients of royalties from federal lands have the flexibility to request appropriations and use these funds to advance energy policies that reflect Idaho’s values. It also authorizes the Idaho Legislature to allocate additional resources to this fund to further the state’s energy policy objectives.

States findings of the Legislature and honors fallen firefighters Frank Harwood and John Morrison Jr. and critically injured engineer David Tysdal.

This resolution honors Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison Jr., of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Coeur d’Alene Fire department, who were killed in a senseless act of violence in 2025, and Engineer David Tysdal, of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, who was critically injured during the same incident. The resolution honors the tireless work and dedication of these firefighters, and affirms the support of the community and the state of Idaho in honoring their contributions to serving and protecting Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County.

States findings of the Legislature and supports increasing water storage in the state.

This joint memorial recognizes that Idaho faces ongoing water shortages due to declining aquifer levels, reduced snowpack, earlier runoff, and insufficient reservoir capacity. It states the Legislature’s commitment to a long-term goal of creating 750,000 acre-feet of new water storage by the year 2100 (“750k by 2100”). The memorial urges Congress and federal agencies to partner with Idaho to fast-track feasibility studies for modest reservoir raises, support planning for new storage projects, explore creative financing options, and complete an updated basin study to identify priority projects. This memorial communicates Idaho’s policy position and long-term vision for improving water security and storage capacity.

Amends existing law to provide for human-powered vehicles, bicycles, and electric-assisted bicycles.

This proposed legislation is designed to promote safety on our roads. Idaho Code § 49-615 requires motor vehicle drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with bicyclists. A recent court ruling found that drivers do not have a duty to avoid colliding with operators of electric assisted bicycles; this legislation would clarify that they do. Additionally, proposed changes to Idaho Code § 49-714 would make clear that operators of electric assisted bicycles must also follow traffic laws and that they have the same duties that motor vehicle operators have.

Amends existing law to authorize the Idaho Legislature to review court rules in certain instances.

This bill authorizes the Idaho Legislature to review any court rules and sets up a process to identify any conflicts between a court rule and Idaho Code.

Amends existing law to provide for the municipal use of geothermal water.

This legislation updates the Reasonably Anticipated Future Needs (RAFN) statutes to include municipal geothermal systems as an allowable municipal purpose. The legislation codifies geothermal system best practices focused on non-consumptive use and reinjection to preserve the water while maximizing access to the heat resource. This will allow municipal geothermal systems to have better flexibility in obtaining and holding water rights needed to serve their community’s heating needs.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding temporary rules and to revise provisions regarding temporary rules.

The legislature recognizes there are times when the use of temporary rules is needed to bridge the gap until pending rules can be considered during the legislative session. This proposed legislation would place some process parameters, additional guidelines, and reporting requirements when temporary rules are employed to meet that need.

Amends and repeals existing law to establish public safety officer catastrophic injury or death in the line of duty benefits.

This establishes consistent catastrophic benefits for public safety officers who are either killed or severely injured in the line of duty. It provides a surviving spouse with an ongoing annual pension of at least $75,000 and a one-time $500,000 pension payment. If there is no surviving spouse, any dependent children would be eligible for only the singular $500,000 pension payment dispersed evenly amongst them.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding public university president searches and to revise provisions regarding certain records.

This legislation adds a new section of code to Title 33 defining the process for all president searches for the state institutions of higher education. This would codify the existing practice that has been utilized by the State Board of Education. This legislation amends Idaho Code 74-106 to make only the name of the sole finalist publicly available. for 10 days prior to the final decision being made by the hiring authority.

Amends existing law to provide for additional training requirements for foster parents.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that foster parent applicants complete a defined set of pre-licensure training requirements prior to receiving a foster care license. While training is currently offered by the Department of Health and Welfare, this act places those expectations in statute by identifying required training topics, establishing a maximum of ten hours of pre-licensure training, an requiring a basic assessment to confirm completion. By codifying these requirements, the legislature provides clarity and uniformity in foster parent licensure standards and ensures that all licensed foster parents have completed foundational training relevant to the care and safety of children placed in foster care.

Amends existing law to revise the definition of “daycare.”

This legislation closes a gap in Idaho law by extending existing sex offender residency restrictions to daycares that are zoned, permitted, or approved by a city or county. Current law applies only to state-licensed daycares, even though some daycares operate legally without a license. This change ensures consistent protections for children without expanding licensing requirements or regulating home daycares.

Amends existing law to provide that license plates do not automatically expire after 10 years and may continue to be used while still legible.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Idaho Code §49-443 to eliminate the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years and no longer have a required replacement period as long as the plate remains readable and legible.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding agriculture license plates.

Regarding Idaho agriculture license plates, this legislation moves design responsibilities from Food Producers of Idaho to the Idaho Ag in the Classroom Board of Directors.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding consumer protection of veterans benefits.

This legislation establishes Idaho specific consumer protection standards for paid assistance provided to veterans seeking help preparing claims for federal veterans’ benefits. The legislation protects veterans from deceptive or predatory practices while preserving their right to choose how they seek assistance. It sets uniform definitions, disclosure requirements, and conduct standards for non-accredited individuals or entities offering paid claims preparation services. Upfront fees are prohibited, compensation must be contingent on a successful outcome, and fees are limited to a reasonable, one-time amount. The legislation requires disclosure of free assistance options, written consent from the veteran, and protection of personal, financial, and health information. It prohibits misleading advertising, guarantees of benefit outcomes, direct solicitation of veterans, use of overseas call centers, and the use of medical professionals to influence claims outcomes. Overall, this legislation promotes transparency and accountability while aligning Idaho consumer protection standards with emerging federal reforms.

Repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions relating to reports of medical authorities establishing blindness.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H0014 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of the Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Section 67-5414, Idaho Code, that relates to reports from medical authorities diagnosing blindness. The Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired reports that this process is no longer how the majority of referrals are received and is therefore unnecessary.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding visitation and termination of parental rights.

This legislation updates Idaho’s child protection statutes to clarify the application of existing provisions when a child is in the custody of the state. Specifically, the bill clarifies that mandatory in-person visitation is not required when sexual or physical abuse has been substantiated. Additionally, it clarifies existing provisions that allow a court to consider termination of parental rights when the Department of Health and Welfare initiates proceedings.

Amends existing law to provide for a retired member who is appointed to an elective public office.

Under current law, an individual who is receiving an unreduced retirement benefit pursuant to Idaho Code § 59-1346 and who has been retired for more than six months may again become employed as a result of being elected to a public office—other than an office held prior to retirement—while continuing to receive a Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) retirement benefit. During such employment, the individual does not accrue additional service credit, and no employee or employer contributions are made. This legislation expands that provision to include individuals who are appointed to an elected office, allowing them to continue receiving a PERSI retirement benefit under the same conditions, as if they were elected to the office. Individuals appointed to an elected office are required to run for that office at the next general election. As a result, the maximum duration this provision could apply to an appointed individual is approximately two years. If the individual is elected, they may continue to receive the PERSI benefit as allowed under current law. If the individual is not elected or chooses not to run, the provision would no longer apply. It is anticipated that this change would affect one to two individuals per year.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2027.

RS33549 / S1383 This appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include new equipment for veterans homes, an adjustment for IT licensing fees, replacement items, and IT hardware.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding hearing notices and to revise a provision regarding procedure at a hearing.

Idaho’s Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the conduct of contested cases before Idaho’s administrative agencies, is largely based upon the 1961 Model State Administrative Procedure Act (“MSAPA”), with selected updates and Idaho-specific modifications since it was initially codified in 1992. Modern practice, and related developments in administrative law, led to a number of updates adopted into law via House Bill 9a from the 2025 Session. This bill furthers that work by adding language regarding notice requirements when an agency issues an order.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding qualified pre-tax contributions and investment earnings and certain qualified Roth contributions and investment earnings.

This legislation amends Idaho Code §59-1308(9) to replace “after-tax contributions” with “Roth contributions and investment earnings” to align with IRS regulations regarding the type of after-tax contributions referred to in this section. It also adds references to IRS code sections 401(a) and 402A to complement existing reference to 401(k). Additionally, it adds “as now in effect and as hereafter amended” to maintain reference to IRS code if future amendments to IRS code occur.

Amends existing law to provide for a certain manner of proving identity.

The legislation promotes consistent identity validation requirements. This legislation combines multiple DMV identity requirements (for driver's licenses, registration, and titling) into one statute. As DMV records have become more uniform across vehicle and driver's services and more physical county offices begin offering both services, identity validation requirements should be uniform to simplify application processes.

Repeals existing law to remove obsolete language relating to the Capital Crimes Defense Fund.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H14 in the 2025 Legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the DOGE Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Section 19-5908, Idaho Code, the Capital Crimes Defense Fund (CCDF). The CCDF shared costs to afford public defense costs associated with death-penalty cases. Since October 1, 2024, these costs are now covered by the Office of the State Public Defender.