Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding personal eligibility conditions to qualify for unemployment benefits.
This legislation would define what qualifies as a “work search” activity that unemployment claimants must engage in to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Specifically, this bill requires claimants to conduct five work search actions per week in order to receive benefits. Idaho currently only requires two work search activities per week as outlined by administrative rule. The legislation also defines “work search” activities and requires these claimants to report to the Department which qualified “work search” activities they have conducted weekly. The final provision in this bill would explicitly prohibit the practice of “ghosting” of an employer interview by unemployment insurance claimants and would require the Department to maintain an email address and web portal for employers to report claimant “ghosting.”
Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to provide that there shall be one round of voting and the person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be deemed to have won 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. 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 election remains the standard. The winner of an election will be the candidate who received the greatest number 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.”
Adds to existing law to provide for the crime of aggravated driving while reckless, to provide penalties, and to provide that evidence of conviction shall be admissible in a civil action for damages.
A person shall be quilty of aggravated driving while reckless if he causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to any person other than himself in committing a violation of the provisions of Section 49-1401 (1), Idaho Code.
58 – 12
States findings of the Legislature and supports certain acquisitions of timber and grazing lands.
This resolution encourages the State of Idaho to look for opportunities to buy large plots of land as they come available.
States findings of the Legislature and approves pending rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Idaho Department of Water Resources reviewed by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and the House Resources and Conservation Committee, with exceptions.
This legislation approves Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and Idaho Department of Water Resources Administrative Rules reviewed by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and the House Resources and Conservation Committee with exceptions. This legislation does not include approval of Department of Lands Docket No. 20-0301-2301, and excludes approval of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Docket No. 26-0120-2301, Sections 225., subsection 07., 245., 247., 250., 254., 256., 276.
69 – 0
Amends existing law to provide certain deadlines for producing records pursuant to a public records request.
This bill would differentiate deadlines to provide public records requests made to public agencies. A public agency will have up to ten working days, from the time of request, to provide the public records to an Idaho resident. A public agency will have up to twenty-one working days, from the time of request, to provide the public records made by a non-resident. This will allow more time for public agencies to meet the demand of public records requests, both in quantity and breadth of specific records solicited, while still prioritizing Idaho residents’ requests.
30 – 4
States findings of the Legislature and recognizes Mother's Day through Father's Day as Traditional Family Values Month to raise awareness about the challenges facing traditional families and the alarming rate at which the traditional American family is declining.
This resolution establishes the Traditional Family Values Month. The traditional family is the fundamental building block of civilization, creating stability, health, and prosperity in societies. This legislation recognizes the vital role of the traditional family by designating a month to celebrate, support, and educate on its importance.
59 – 10
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding tax rates, school facilities funding, and school district bond and tax levy elections.
This legislation provides the largest state investment in school facilities through three main avenues. First, it dedicates $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue to the new School Modernization Facilities Fund for bonding, while providing the legislature with expanded options to cover annual service on the bonds in the event of economic downturns. Second, this legislation increases the funding to the School District Facility Fund in two ways. It increases the sales tax revenue directed to the fund from 2.25% to 3.25% which is projected to be $25 million in FY 2025, and redirects existing lottery dividends to the fund, which is projected to be approximately $50 million in FY 2025. This fund will help school districts with paying down school bonds, levies, and plant facility levies, with any remaining funds being used at the district level for additional school facility projects. Third, this legislation reduces income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%, allowing Idahoans to have more money to better support local bonds and levies related to school facilities. Additional changes and technical edits are made to related Code provisions. Combined, this bill provides unprecedented state support for school facility improvements in every school district in the state while ensuring appropriate accountability.
Treg Bernt · SD-021
23 – 11
Amends existing law to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right.
This legislation adds the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act, provides definitions for these terms, and amends the stated purpose of the Act consistent with the legislation's other amendments.
Melissa Wintrow · SD-019
Adds to existing law to prohibit governmental entities in the State of Idaho from compelling employees and students to use certain titles and pronouns.
This legislation will protect people of Idaho with law that prohibits any government entity in the state of Idaho from compelling any public employee to communicate preferred personal titles or pronouns that do not correspond with biological sex of the individual seeking to be referred to by such title or pronoun. No person should be subject to coercion by any government entity in the state of Idaho to communicate in any way statements that such person prefers not to communicate. A government entity that compels speech would deprive persons the fundamental right to free speech guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.
25 – 9
Amends existing law to revise the definition of an employee.
This legislation amends the definition of “employee” for the purposes of PERSI enrollment to exclude seasonal employees of soil and water conservation districts in positions that do not exceed eight consecutive months in a calendar year if the employer certifies in writing that the position is seasonal or casual and is affected by weather. This definition already applies to seasonal golf course, park, or other positions in cities, counties, irrigation districts, cemetery districts, and mosquito abatement districts.
70 – 0
Amends existing law to provide that the boards of trustees of each school district shall have the discretion whether to establish school libraries and whether to decommission any school library that is not necessary.
This legislation amends Idaho Code, Section 33-512, to revise a provision regarding power of School Board Trustees within a school district, allowing the Board to determine whether to equip and maintain a library or libraries in any school or schools. Additionally, the Board may authorize any school under its authority to decommission any library that it determines is not necessary.
Relates to the appropriation to the to the Department of Insurance for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Department of Insurance provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes 4.00 FTP and additional personnel costs for two deputy fire marshals, a financial technician, and an examiner financial specialist; replacement items; and the additional 2% CEC.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
65 – 3
Adds to existing law to provide that a political subdivision shall not enact certain rules, ordinances, or taxes regarding knives, to provide certain exceptions, and to provide that certain rules and ordinances from a political subdivision shall be null and void.
The purpose of this legislation is to prevent political subdivisions from regulating the possession, sale, transfer, or manufacture of knives more strictly than Idaho code.
27 – 7
Amends existing law to provide for certain fingerprint and criminal history background checks.
This bill allows the division administrator, unless otherwise prohibited by law or rule, to conduct fingerprint criminal background checks as a requirement for licensure and registration, revises language concerning fingerprinting to align the procedures employed by the various boards and commissions governed by the division of occupational and professional licenses, and simplifies the fingerprinting process for applicants.
24 – 10
Adds to existing law to allow a city to prohibit the expansion of certain operations posing a threat to public health and safety with approval of a two-thirds majority vote of the city council.
Existing property can become hazards to health and safety. In addition, such properties can raise concerns that they are vulnerable to subversive threats and the damage such activity may cause. This bill provides that a city, by a two-thirds council vote, can limit the expansion of such properties.
States findings of the Legislature and approves pending rules of the Idaho State Racing Commission, the Idaho State Liquor Division, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and the Endowment Fund Investment Board reviewed by the Senate State Affairs Committee and the House State Affairs Committee.
This legislation states the legislative findings and approves the rules of the Idaho State Racing Commission, the Idaho State Liquor Division, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and the Endowment Fund Investment Board. These rules were reviewed by the Senate State Affairs Committee and the House State Affairs Committee.
Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding certain time requirements, penalties and damages, and charges for care and to establish provisions regarding willfully and wantonly allowing estrays.
This legislation adds provisions to address stray livestock and the disruption they can cause. This legislation will ensure improved animal husbandry and neighbor relationships.
55 – 13
Amends existing law to provide that the Governor's appointment of the executive officer of the state board is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate and to revise provisions regarding School Modernization Facilities Fund distributions to school districts.
This is a trailer bill to House Bill 521 that makes three changes: 1) it ensures the executive officer of the state board is Senate confirmed; 2) it delays the implementation of the minimum days requirement for schools to 2025 to ensure legislative oversight while providing the state board flexibility to phase in hours or days requirements; and 3) it ensures any misused dollars by a local school district are recaptured to the schools facilities fund and distributed to rural schools.
63 – 4
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the prohibition of mask mandates.
The purpose of this legislation is to prevent the State of Idaho, its political subdivisions, or any state officers from mandating the use of face masks, face shields, or other face coverings to prevent or slow the spread of a contagious or infectious disease; it also provides relevant definitions.
46 – 24
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for the creation of the Idaho Allied Health Professionals Board and to remove references to various health boards that are to be consolidated under the Idaho Allied Health Professionals Board.
The Idaho Board of Medicine currently governs the practice of dietetics, athletic training, respiratory therapy, and naturopathic medicine through separate advisory boards for each practice. This bill restructures those advisory boards into a single allied health advisory board to restrain costs and provide more efficient governance.
27 – 7
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding student education data.
This legislation seeks to update Title 33 Chapter 133, Idaho Code regarding the use, limitations, and penalties related to student data. The proposed legislation provides technical corrections and broadens the scope of student data to encompass education data more generally, thereby allowing staff data to receive the same protections as student data.
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding annual reports on drug trafficking, manufacturing, delivery, and possession with the intent to distribute.
This legislation will produce annual statistical data regarding criminal charges and corresponding sentences for Delivery of Controlled Substances, Manufacturing of Controlled Substance, Trafficking of Controlled Substances, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances. This annual report will provide accurate detailed information regarding the most serious drug offenses in Idaho with transparency on the actual charges, convictions, sentencings and probation/parole supervision of these drug-related offenses in Idaho.
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the State Controller for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This appropriation to the State Controller provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includesanet-zeroadjustmentbyprogramtorealignthebudgetandthe2%CEC.Additionally,thisbillincludes an FY 2024 supplemental appropriation for a Catastrophic Health Care Fund Claim.
Carl Bjerke · SD-005
42 – 24
Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the selection, review, and reconsideration of school library materials.
The School Library Material Care act creates a consistent set of procedural requirements for Idaho school librariesregardingtheselection,review,inventorymanagement,andreconsiderationofschoollibrarymaterials. Local school boards of trustees will be empowered to develop and adopt such policies, as well as appoint a committee, in partnership with local parents for the review and reconsideration procedures of school library materials. These policies shall include periodic curation, review, and revision of such materials, in addition to maintaining a complete and transparent inventory of current school library materials for parents and legal guardians of students enrolled at the relevant school. Effectively implementing these procedures will protect students from pornography and from accessing materials that are not appropriate for their maturity or interest. School libraries that are not compliant may not be open to students until such time as they achieve compliance with the developed procedures.
Linda Hartgen · SD-025