Idaho Bills

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Information Technology Services for fiscal year 2025.

This is a FY 2025 appropriation bill for the Office of Information Technology Services. It appropriates a total of $34,660,600 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 221.00. The bill funds eight FY2025enhancements, whichprovidesfundingforfundingforITsecurityequipment, networkequipmentand services, IT infrastructure, IT architecture and GIS, service vehicle leases, onetime infrastructure equipment replacement, website development and maintenance transactions with the Department of Administration, and IT consolidation. IT consolidation includes the Department of Labor, Department of Lands, Military Division, Liquor Division, Office of the State Public Defender, and the Idaho State Historical Society.

Amends and adds to existing law to establish the Public Education Facilities Fund.

Thisbillwouldcreateafundinthestatetreasurytosupportpubliceducationfacilities. Moneysinthefundshall be distributed as a need-based grant to school districts for the purposes of financing construction, remodel, and maintenance of school facilities. An application for such grant funds shall include a detailed plan for the school facility project, details concerning facilities conditions, projected costs related to the project, estimated bond levy request, previous bond levy requests, and financial condition report of the school district. The treasurer shall review and approve applications in consultation with the state division of occupational and professional licenses, the state fire marshal, the state board of education, and the state department of education. Based on the application, the state treasurer may approve all or part of the grant request. If the state treasurer approves the grant application, the school district may then pursue their bond levy, less the grant amount approved for distribution.

Repeals and adds to existing law to allow certain countywide highway districts to be divided into subdistricts, each represented by a commissioner.

In a countywide highway district, this legislation adds two commissioners, for a total of seven, and changes boundaries to include better city representation within the county. This legislation also lays out criteria to implement the addition of new boundaries within the county and with the 2026 election, each political party will elect its candidate.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors and to provide for affiliates and entities.

This legislation seeks to strengthen the independence of Idaho's Auto Dealers and promote a balanced relationship between Idaho businesses and the large multinational manufacturers. It clarifies and modifies existing Idaho Franchise Code to ensure free local markets exist in Idaho, providing for the benefits of local free market competition for Idaho citizens, and preserving the investments and properties of the citizens of this state.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the retirement of judges and to provide that a judicial vacancy shall remain vacant until the next judicial election in certain instances.

This legislation retains the Plan B early retirement incentive for supreme court justices, judges of the court of appeals and district judges who are serving as of April 1, 2024. After that date, any new positions will be ineligible for the Plan B option. In addition, this legislation acknowledges that selection for senior judge status is wholly within the discretion of the supreme court. If the Court approves senior judge status under the Plan B option for any supreme court justice, judge of the court of appeals, or district judge, who is retiring before the end of their elected term, that vacancy shall be filled by a senior judge until a new judge or justice can be elected. If no candidate is elected in the next judicial election, the position may then be filled through the judicial council selection process. This legislation has no impact on retirement status for judges or justices who are not applying for Plan B status. This legislation does not impact magistrate judges since they are not eligible for Plan B status.

Proposes an amendment to Senate Rule 3 regarding organization, seating, and substitution in the Senate.

This legislation addresses Senate Rule 3, which directs the organization of the Senate when a newly elected legislature has its first meeting. The proposed change to Senate Rule 3 is to state that substitution in either the House or the Senate does not count toward seniority. This rule change will bring Senate Rule 3 into agreement with Idaho Code § 67-412 which states that substitutes may exercise the duties of a legislator, but the elected Senator or Representative retains the office. The proposed effective date of the legislation is December 1, 2024.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the taxation of rate-regulated electric companies.

This bill would replace the property tax on electric utilities with a tax based on kilowatt hours sold.

Amends and adds to existing law to prohibit certain materials from being promoted, given, or made available to a minor by a school or public library, to provide a cause of action, to provide for damages, and to provide for injunctive relief.

The Children's School and Library Protection Act requires public schools and community libraries to take reasonable steps in restricting children's access to obscene or harmful material. A parent or guardian of a minor child who accesses such material in violation of this policy would be entitled to bring a civil action against the school or library for damages and injunctive relief.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish the Accelerating Public Charter Schools Act.

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.

Amends existing law to revise the powers and duties of the district board of health.

This legislation modifies Section 39-414, Idaho Code, to limit the powers and duties of the district boards of health. It narrows their scope to administer and enforce only necessary and reasonable health laws and regulations, eliminating the broader mandate to do "all things" for the preservation and protection of public health, including preventative health measures. This change reinforces the focused use of authority and resources to ensure the boards operate within a specified framework.

Amends existing law to provide that a violation of the International Fire Code as adopted by Idaho shall be a misdemeanor.

To put into Idaho Code the violation of International Fire Code, as adopted by Idaho. Violations of the fire code are currently misdemeanors in Idaho pursuant to IDAPA 18.08.01.17. Placing the penalty in statute rather than rule will streamline the process for fire and law enforcement personnel.

Amends existing law to expand a prohibition of electioneering messages on certain tax-related correspondence to include support for government programs or initiatives and nonprofit corporations.

This legislation further defines 'electioneering message' for tax commission correspondences.

Amends existing law to revise the terms “embryo or fetus” and “stillborn fetus” as “preborn child” and “stillborn child.”

To replace the term 'fetus' or 'fetus and embryo' with the term 'preborn child' or 'child.' This change is policy neutral and does not alter existing statutory definitions.