Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding voting by absentee ballot.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding authority of county commissioners.

This legislation updates Idaho code 31-44-01 by defining and prohibiting the practice of “flow control” by local units of Government and ensures there is a public process for the public to be made aware of any pending decision to create a new solid waste facility but doesn’t change the counties or cities ability to build, own, or operate such facilities so long as they follow the process of notifying the public.

Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to provide that in all partisan primary elections and general elections, and for the election of judges, there shall be one round of voting and the person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be the winner of 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. This proposal affects elections for statewide offices, elections for the legislature, partisan county elections and the elections of judges. City and local elections would not be affected by this constitutional amendment. 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 electionremainsthestandard. Thewinnerofanelectionwillbethecandidatewhoreceivedthegreatestnumber 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.

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.

Adds to existing law to provide a sales tax exemption for grain bin equipment.

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.

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 existing law to revise provisions regarding multiple awards.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the duties of ski area operators.

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.

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

Amends existing law to revise the definition of “juvenile offender” and to revise a provision regarding jurisdiction and juveniles younger than ten years of age.

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