Idaho Bills

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Correction for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Amends existing law to exempt UTVs that are equipped with a roll cage and seat belts from safety helmet requirements.

ThislegislationamendsSection49-666,IdahoCode,toestablishanexemptionforpersonsundereighteenyears of age from the requirement to wear a helmet when riding in UTVs equipped with a roll cage and seat belts.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding brewers' licenses.

Thisamendmentensuresthatout-of-statesmallbrewersareheldtothesamestandardsasin-statesmallbrewers and the out-of-state small brewers are given no additional advantages. It clarifies that small brewers must have a physical, in-state presence. Maintaining a physical presence is paramount in the interest of protecting the health, safety and welfare of Idaho citizens and for the establishment of an orderly marketplace. Such physical presence achieves unquestionable jurisdiction, provides immediate accountability for suppliers and provides the ability for regulators to remove bad actors and unsafe products from the market. Such physical presence allows for physical inspections, which are statutorily required by Idaho law including, but not limited to, the Idaho State Police, Division of Alcohol Beverage Control, the Idaho State Tax Commission, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Relates to the appropriation to the Military Division and the Department of Health and Welfare for the Public Health Services Division for fiscal year 2026.

ThisisatrailerappropriationtotheMilitaryDivisionandthePublicHealthServicesDivisionintheDepartment of Health and Welfare for the impact of House Bill 206. House Bill 206 transferred the Emergency Medical Services program, less Preparedness and Response, from the Public Health Services Division to the Military Division and this bill provides adjustments to appropriations to complete that transfer. The appropriation for the Preparedness and Response program is transferred to the Physical Health budgeted program in the Public Health Services Division.

Amends and repeals existing law to provide for the de-licensure of makeup artists.

This legislation is to delicense makeup artists.

States findings of the Legislature and requests Idaho work with the federal government to reform certain federal acts that impede the production and processing of minerals in Idaho.

This Senate Joint Memorial exemplifies the vast mineral resources that Idaho has and the economic opportunities that mineral extraction and processing offers. Streamlining the permitting process at the State and federal level is vital to the success of the mining industry. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on mineral projects in order to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards; and mining companies still face endless litigation. The United States has some of the highest environmental, safety, and health standards in the world. It is of the utmost importance that the State of Idaho work with the new Trump Administration in streamlining permitting reform, use of public lands, and encourage domestic mining and mineral processing activities in the United States.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding certified registered nurse anesthetists.

This legislation clarifies the scope of practice, responsibilities, and liability protections for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in Idaho. CRNAs provide the full spectrum of anesthesia services to patients with awiderangeofhealthconditions. CRNAspracticeineverysettinginwhichanesthesiaisprovidedandareoften the sole anesthesia provider in many rural counties in Idaho. Since 2002, Idaho has recognized the independent practice of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), becoming the third state in the nation to remove thephysiciansupervisionrequirement. Thislegislationreaffirmstheirautonomousroleinanesthesiacarewhile ensuring appropriate liability protections for physicians.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the adjustment of line license tax allocations, the expenditures of reclamation funds, voluntary contributions, the establishment of an advisory committee, the responsibilities of the department of lands, and the setting of reclamation priorities.

The changes in this bill provide additional monies from the Idaho Mine License Tax for the use in the Abandoned Mine Land Fund and provides for voluntary contributions to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. Voluntary contributions from mining companies can be considered as part of the required environmental or natural resource requirements for new or expanded mining operations. The bill also specifies what percentage of funds must be spent on direct reclamation activities. The bill requires the Idaho Department of Lands to prioritize abandoned mine sites as to actions needed, to provide an annual report of how funds were expended (by eligible site) and actual progress made (by eligible site). Finally, the bill creates an advisory committee to provide guidance to the department of Lands on priorities of eligible sites for reclamation and planned reclamation actions.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide certain property tax exemptions for certain utilities and to provide for a tax on rate-regulated electric companies and gas companies.

This proposed legislation would replace the property tax on electric utilities with a tax based on kilowatt hours sold. It also would replace the property tax on gas companies with a tax based on therms sold.

Relates to the appropriation to the Industrial Commission for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Industrial Commission provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget thatincludesfundingforamaintenancecontractfortheIndustrialCommission'sredesignedinformationsystem (IRIS)project,financialtechnicianreclassification,refereepositionfunding,andOITShardware. Alsoincluded is a net-zero appropriation shift for FY 2025 for IRIS cost allocation. The Industrial Commission requested $32,300 for a rehabilitation field consultant, $25,500 to reclassify adjudication associates, $62,300 for a technical records specialist, $30,000 for an IRIS contingency fund, and $132,000 for replacement vehicles. These enhancement items do not receive funding in this bill.

States findings of the Legislature and provides for a joint session of the House and Senate to hear a message from the Governor.

This House Concurrent Resolution is to allow the Governor to deliver the State of the State address during a Joint Session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

States findings of the Legislature, commends approval of the Stibnite Gold Project, and requests the remaining permits for the project be expeditiously processed and approved.

This joint memorial encourages the President of United States, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commanding General of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States, the Governor of Idaho, and the Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources to ensure the Stibnite Gold Project in Valley County maintains its positive record of decision, and successfully enters into the development phase of the project. The Final Record of Decision issued by the United States Forest Service on January 3, 2025, represents over a decade of collaboration and engagement between Perpetua Resources, local communities, stakeholders, and government agencies. This decision will boost Idaho’s local and state economies, restore an abandoned mine site, and help secure a domestic supply chain for essential energy, technology, and defense materials.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Agriculture and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budgets for the Department of Agriculture and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Enhancements to the Department of Agriculture include a pay structure for agricultural investigators, a 5% change in employee compensation for fresh fruit and vegetable inspectors, replacement items, and IT hardware. Enhancements for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission include onetime funding to replace a vehicle and support the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA). This legislation also includes a FY 2025 deficiency warrant to reimburse actual expenditures incurred in FY 2024formonitoringandcontrolofexoticspeciesincludingJapanesebeetles,Mormoncrickets,andotherexotic pests. Chapters 19 and 20, Title 22, Idaho Code, authorizes the Department of Agriculture to use deficiency warrants for the monitoring and mitigation of invasive species and pests.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding refugee medical assistance.

This bill is relating to the Refugee Medical Assistance Act in Chapter 5 Title 56 of Idaho code. It establishes provisions regarding eligibility, limitations on benefits, and defines terms. The bill also declares certain administrative rules null and void.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding advanced opportunities.

The Advanced Opportunities (AO) program provides funds to all Idaho students (public, private, and homeschool) to help pay for CTE fees, dual-credit courses, AP tests, and other academic endeavors to help students “go on” to post-secondary training or education. The longstanding practice has been for homeschool students to use their funds through partnerships with local school districts. However, recent interpretations counter the intent of the Legislature. This law clarifies that homeschool students can also use AO funds to obtain dual credit through community colleges. This bill also provides alignment between public school and private school AO programs for college entrance exams, advising for students who have taken 15 credits through AO, how the state handles a student’s failure on courses or exams, and paying fees for community college dual enrollment.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide that legislative approval is required for certain state plan amendments and waivers and to provide legislative approval for certain state plan amendments and waivers.

The Medicaid Reform and Cost-Containment Act strengthens Idaho’s Medicaid program by controlling cost, ensuringitslong-termsustainability, protectingruralhealthcareaccess, andimplementingnecessarysafeguards against fraud and abuse. By requiring legislative oversight of Medicaid waivers and amendments, this legislation ensures that critical safety net providers, including rural emergency hospitals and community-based clinics, continue to serve Idaho’s most vulnerable populations. This act prioritizes cost containment by establishing sideboards on Medicaid expansion to maintain fiscal responsibility while ensuring resources are directed to those most in need. Furthermore, it provides a trigger for cost management if Medicaid is changed at the federal level. By balancing healthcare access with financial accountability, this legislation keeps Idaho’s Medicaid program sustainable, efficient, and focused on delivering high-quality care while preventing unnecessary dependency on government services.