Idaho Bills

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for campaign finance transparency.

RS33778 / S1422 Idaho’s campaign finance laws, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Laws,” were enacted in 1974 through a citizen initiative to increase transparency of money spent on political campaigns and lobbying activities. This legislation revises and reorganizes campaign finance statutes from their 1974 version by moving the provisions from Title 67, Chapter 66, State Government and State Affairs, to Title 74, Chapter 3, Transparent and Ethical Government. This drastically improves reporting clarity and strengthens enforcement in response to increased financial activity and evolving campaign practices. This legislation also expands transparency requirements related to the ballot initiative process, referendum campaigns, and independent expenditures. These provisions provide clearer disclosure of funding sources, reporting of activity, communications intended to influence voters outside of candidate campaigns, and prohibit foreign contributions for ballot measures. In addition, the legislation adds one additional pre-primary and one pre-general campaign finance report, updates contribution and expenditure limitations, and establishes a revised fine structure for reporting violations that balances appropriate penalties for small campaign violations as compared to larger campaign violations. Overall, the legislation modernizes and strengthens disclosure requirements and ensures campaign finance laws are transparent and enforceable.

Amends existing law to revise the amount of required motor vehicle insurance relating to property damage.

This legislation amends Idaho's motor vehicle financial responsibility laws to increase the minimum required insurance coverage for property damage resulting from motor vehicle accidents. The bill increases the required minimum property damage liability coverage from fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per accident and makes conforming amendments to insurance and bonding provisions governing proof of financial responsibility. The purpose of the legislation is to better align minimum coverage requirements with current vehicle repair and replacement costs while maintaining existing bodily injury coverage requirements.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the practice of dental hygiene.

Idaho has been a leader in scope of practice reform, and many past reforms aided Idaho’s application for Rural Health Transformation funds. Further, Idaho’s RHT application indicated that the state would explore the possibility of expanding scope of practice of dental hygienists. To address existing provider shortages in this state, this bill expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists to all dental services within the hygienist’s education, training, and experience or those services delegated to the hygienist by a supervising dentist.

States findings of the Senate and endorses the development of a state plan to support kinship caregivers.

The purpose of this resolution is to support and encourage the creation of a state plan for kinship caregivers to maximize the use of public and community-based resources.

Adds to existing law to provide for new large loads.

This legislation proposes to codify existing regulatory processes with respect to new large load energy service agreements. This legislation does not affect existing large load customers but will set the standard for new large loads; it will set standards and guidelines for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to follow when contemplating a new large load contract.

Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for parents' access to records and information.

RS33666 / H0857 This bill strengthens the law on parents' access to records and information about their minor child.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the payment of depredation claims.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all available moneys in the Big Game Depredation Fund are fully and efficiently paid out for valid claims arising from damage caused by big game to private property. This act clarifies claim payment procedures, prioritizes the distribution of available funds to approved claims, and provides mechanisms for proportional payment when claims exceed available balances, ensuring that funds are not unnecessarily left unexpended while landowners and agricultural producers wait for compensation.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.

This bill establishes the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to improve student safety by requiring schools to follow clear, statewide disclosure rules when hiring employees. Schools must obtain information about any past misconduct, pending investigations, or resignations during investigations, and must report required matters to law enforcement. This bill promotes transparency, prevents the concealment of misconduct, and ensures accurate reporting to the Idaho Professional Standards Commission.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act.

This legislation establishes the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act to protect school employees and personnel who report sexual misconduct related to student safety. Fear of retaliation often discourages reporting, allowing misconduct to continue unchecked. This bill prohibits educational entities from retaliating against individuals who report in good faith, participate in investigations, or refuse to conceal misconduct.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding notice of lapse or termination of individual life insurance.

RS33692 / H0881 This legislation amends Section 41-1830, Idaho Code, relating to notice of lapse or termination of individual life insurance policies. The bill increases the required notice period before a policy may lapse for nonpayment of premium from fourteen (14) days to sixty (60) days and allows policyholders with policies over $100,000 to request that lapse notices be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other delivery methods that provide proof of delivery. The bill also allows insurers to charge the policyholder the actual delivery cost for certified or signature-required notice, not to exceed forty dollars ($40). These changes help ensure policyholders receive clear and verifiable notice before coverage is terminated.