Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for Special Programs for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Special Programs under the State Board of Education provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes additional staffing, additional operating expenditures, funding for the rural educator incentive program, and the additional 2% CEC.
Julie VanOrden · SD-030
23 – 10
Amends existing law to revise the appointment procedures for the Board of Education, including establishing geographical representation of seats on the Board of Education.
This legislation establishes seven geographical regions for appointment to the State Board of Education. Each region holds five state legislative districts. If a qualified candidate who resides in the region does not apply within six months of the state posting a vacancy, the governor may appoint an interim board member for an abbreviated term of no more than three years. No more than two of the seven board members may be interim appointments, and interim board members may not reside in the county of any other current board member. Region Divisions Grouped by Legislative District: • Region 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 • Region 2: 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 • Region 3: 10, 11 , 12, 13, 20 • Region 4: 15, 16, 17,21 ,22 • Region 5: 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 • Region 6: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 • Region 7: 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35
31 – 1
Proposes an amendment to Joint Rule 11 to provide that the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee shall be cochairmen of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
This resolution amends the joint rules of the Idaho House of Representatives and the Senate. In doing so, it provides a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) exception to the provision in the joint rules that states that the Senate committee chairman will chair all joint committees of the House and Senate. Putting this JFACexceptionintothejointrulesisneededtoalignthejointruleswithdecadesofsuccessfulpractice,inwhich the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee have functioned as co-equal JFAC co-chairs.
63 – 3
Amends existing law to revise the minimum and maximum distribution amounts for school districts from the School Modernization Facilities Fund.
This legislation is a trailer bill to H 521. It amends the Fixed Distribution section of the School Modernization Facilities Fund in Idaho Code 33-915. It would raise the minimum distribution to $100,000 and cap the maximum distribution at $100M.
22 – 12
Adds to existing law to enact the Idaho Dietary Supplement Act, which provides that the production, marketing, distribution, sale, and use of dietary supplements that were legal in Idaho as of July 1, 2023, shall remain legal in Idaho, regardless of any changes to federal law or regulation.
ThepurposeofthislegislationistoensuretheCitizensofIdahoandhealthpractitionersretainaccesstovitamins and supplements under current regulations.
States findings of the Legislature and approves pending rules of the Idaho Department of Lands reviewed by the House Resources and Conservation Committee and the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, with an exception.
This legislation approves the Idaho Dept. of Lands 2024 Administrative Rules as submitted and considered by the House Resources & Conservation Committee and the Senate Resources & Environment Committee, with theexceptionofIDAPA20.03.01, RulesGoverningDredgeandPlacerMiningOperationsinIdaho, DocketNo. 20-0301-2301, Section 051., Subsection 01 which the House Resources & Conservation Committee rejected because it does not agree with Idaho Code 67-5291.
64 – 0
Amends existing law to clarify requirements for criminal history and background checks for potential temporary caregivers.
This legislation provides clarification to authorize the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare to submit the fingerprints of temporary caregivers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to process a criminal history and background check as per Idaho Code §56-1004A, Criminal History and Background Checks. The statutory update is needed in order to add this category of caregivers as an approved group per FBI requirements.
69 – 0
Amends existing law to require certain heat detection devices in certain attached garages and to provide an exemption from a requirement of fire sprinklers for certain multiple family dwellings with fire walls.
This legislation would clarify building code requirements for multifamily units up to 2 units on the same side (Fourplex) by not requiring sprinklers when a 2 hour fire wall is constructed between the units and to require for single and multi-family residences that a heat detection device be installed in the garage.
Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the Kootenai River Water Rights Adjudication.
This legislation starts the water adjudication process for the Kootenai River Basin in North Idaho. The Idaho Department of Water Resources will be the responsible state agency. There will be no new staff requirements. The IDWR staff assigned to the adjudication of the neighboring Pend Oreille Basin will remain for this project after completing their current work. This project will likely take 4-5 years and is supported by the water users of the basin. The Kootenai Basin is the last water basin in the state to address their water adjudication needs.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to include responding to solicitations for services within the practice of architecture and to provide that a firm offering to practice in Idaho shall identify an Idaho-licensed architect who will supervise such services.
ThisbillaimstoleveltheplayingfieldbetweenIdahobasedarchitecturalfirmsandnationalfirmswhenbidding on state projects. This bill does two things. 1. It amends 54-303 to clarify that the “practice of architecture” also includes “submitting a response” to an RFP, or RFQ 2. It amends 54-305 to make clear that a firm who “offers to practice” must have an Idaho licensed architect who will “supervise the architectural services” listed in the proposal.
33 – 1
Amends existing law to allow students of majority age to submit a signed statement for exemption from immunizations requirements.
This legislation is intended to address two issues. The first is the 12th grade immunization requirement for which there is no exemption when a student is age 18 during their 12th grade school year. The requirement can be found in IDAPA 16.02.15.100.06.c. The second is to prevent colleges and universities in the state of Idaho from infringing on the privacy rights of students by requiring vaccination status or the disclosure of confidentialmedicalinformationasconditionsofenrollmentorattendance. Theexemptionscurrentlydescribed in §39-4802, §39-1118, and IDAPA 16.02.15.110 apply only to minor children and require parent or legal guardian signature.
28 – 7
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the right to certain medical liens, to update a provision regarding perfection of such liens, and to provide that liens shall relate to the value of services or treatments provided.
Extending the time for filing a medical lien until after a citizen's health insurance has had the chance to process the medical costs ensuring that medical providers get paid a fair value for their services. This also modernizes the1941medicallienstatutetomakeitconsistentwithrecentIdahomedicalbillingstatutes. Thishelpspatients bymakingsurethatthosewhohavepurchasedmedicalinsurancereceivethebenefitstheyhavepurchasedwhile still protecting medical providers.
Chris Trakel · SD-011
Amends existing law to exempt certain farming equipment from sales tax.
This legislation clarifies that the structures and equipment used in the storage of small grains are exempt from sales taxes, including augers, dryers, fans, sweep augers, as well as equipment and supplies used in quality control functions.
34 – 1
Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho State Historical Society for fiscal year 2025.
ThisisaFY2025appropriationbillfortheIdahoStateHistoricalSociety. Itappropriatesatotalof$10,470,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 59.00. The bill also provides appropriation to meet the service needs at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, to ensure agency operations continue without audit findings, and provides language regarding the accountability of appropriated funds.
Amends existing law to increase the Advanced Opportunities funding for both public school students and nonpublic school students, to remove a spending cap for certain eligible courses, and to revise provisions regarding the administration of the program for nonpublic school students.
This legislation amends Idaho code section 33-4602 to increase the amount of advanced opportunity funds per publicschoolstudentby$500, from$4,125to$4,625toassiststudentswhoareworkingtoachieveanassociate degree while still in high school through the attainment of dual credits. There are just under 600 students who have maxed out their advanced opportunity funding. This legislation also removes the restrictive expenditure caps on CTE workforce training courses. This legislation amends Idaho code section 33-4603 to increase the amount of advanced opportunity funds per non-public school student from by $1,750, from $750 to $2,500 and modifies the payment structure to allow for the State Department of Education to pay the Idaho higher education institutions directly for dual credit courses taken by non-public students. There are just under 300 non-public students participating in this program.
66 – 2
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish the Accelerating Public Charter Schools Act to provide for public charter schools that operate independently from traditional schools.
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.
James Ruchti · SD-029
32 – 1
Amends existing law to provide an exception to residency requirements in certain adoption proceedings.
Children in foster care may be adopted by families and relatives who do not live in Idaho. According to Section 16-1506, Idaho Code, before a family can petition a court for adoption in Idaho they must reside in and maintain a dwelling in Idaho for six (6) consecutive months. It is in the best interest of foster children and the state that adoptions do not require an out-of-state family to reside in Idaho for six (6) consecutive months. This requirement delays a permanent home for some children and keeps the state involved with children and adoptive families lives longer than is required or helpful. In some cases, adoption and the permanent home have been delayed for years. This change allows children to achieve timely permanency the court has sufficient information about the child and family to finalize the adoption.
65 – 0
Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for the adoption of a certain electrical code, to provide for certain modifications to the electrical code, and to prohibit local governments from requiring certain installations.
This legislation codifies certain exemptions to the 2023 Electrical Code, which was adopted by the Legislature last legislative session. It also prevents any city, county, or any other political subdivision from requiring the installation of an electric vehicle circuit as part of any new construction.
46 – 23
Adds to existing law to establish equitable billing practices for 340B drugs and covered entities.
The Affordable Prescription Drug Cost Act restores the integrity of the 340B Drug Discount Program by ensuring fair reimbursement to Idaho’s 340B covered entities and contract pharmacies. This legislation prohibits Pharmacy Benefit Managers from placing any burdensome restrictions on a 340B covered entity or contract pharmacy that would not be placed equally on a non-340B covered entity or non-contract pharmacy. Additionally, this legislation safeguards Idahoans’ choices for pharmacy selection, and preserves independent pharmacies, by prohibiting drug manufacturers from restricting which pharmacies can receive drugs purchased under the 340B program.
Amends existing law to establish requirements regarding the vacation of public rights-of-way that furnish access to state or federal public lands or waters.
This legislation amends section 40-203 of Idaho Code regarding the abandonment of roads and public rights-of-way. Abandonment involves a lengthy process for the county or the highway district in which a public road is being abandoned. For the cases where the public road accesses public lands or waters, this legislation adds to the process so that evidence of such access can be presented. For those public roads that do access public lands and waters, this amendment to 40-203 requires that a replacement public access be provided, even if that public access is provided at private expense, before the abandonment can be completed. The replacements cannot be provided through the use of eminent domain nor condemnation, and this legislation will not affect any road vacations currently underway or currently being litigated.
33 – 2
Amends and repeals existing law to remove provisions regarding child labor.
Youth employment is currently hampered by a legacy of restrictive regulation in Idaho. Other states like Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas have passed legislation to liberate young adults to go to work and to build the economicopportunityintheirstates’tightlabormarkets. Thisbillwillfreeworkerstoworkatyoungerages,get employment in jobs currently restricted, and help employers get the workers they need at lower costs. The bill will untie labor restrictions from public education constraints because many young workers are home-schooled or attend alternative education models that do not follow the traditional public education times and days. The bill, while prohibiting exploitation, will be encouraging to any enterprising young kid who wants to work, and does so without sacrificing basic education.
Amends and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding management of sexual offenders and standards for treatment providers and to authorize the creation of an advisory panel regarding sexual offender management.
This bill replaces the Sexual Offender Management Board (SOMB). Instead, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) is required to create an advisory panel to do the work of the SOMB. The SOMB does not manage or supervise sexual offenders, rather it sets and oversees standards for treatment providers that serve sexual offenders (e.g., licensed psychiatrists, licensed mental health professionals, polygraphers, etc.). These professionals (except for polygraphers) are already licensed by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. IDOC will continue to set and oversee standards for professionals who provide treatment services to sexual offenders. IDOC will establish an advisory panel to advise IDOC on standards. IDOC is also expressly required to work together with Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections on standards for service providers who work with juveniles. This bill also removes the processing fee for providers. In recent years there has been a shortage of providers. This fee removal decreases the regulatory burden for these professionals.
Adds to existing law to require the State Treasurer to compile and prepare a report of state moneys invested in a foreign adversary.
Idaho’s public investment dollars should not be used to fund our foreign adversaries. This proposed legislation is a first step in divesting of such investments by identifying how many public investment dollars are currently invested in foreign adversaries. This legislation requires a report from the state treasurer next January showing such amounts.
35 – 0
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Office of Health and Social Services ombudsman.
This legislation establishes an office of the health and social services ombudsman to monitor and evaluate the compliance of public agencies and private entities in the provision of health and social services policy for children under the care of the state. and vulnerable adults. • The ombudsman will respond to claims related to services provided to children in foster care, protective supervision, or residential treatment facilities in Idaho. •Theofficeoperatesindependentlyofthelegislature, thecourts, theDepartmentofHealthandWelfare(DHW), and other state agencies. • The ombudsman will establish and manage a procedure for receiving, examining, and resolving complaints. • The office will also ensure that service recipients know their legal rights under Idaho and federal law. • The office will produce an annual report on its work, the status of child welfare and adult protective services, alongwithanyrecommendationstothegovernor,thelegislature,thedirectorofDHW,thestatepublicdefender, the courts, and all other relevant state departments. • Complaints submitted to the ombudsman can include events where an agency’s behavior was 1) contrary to law, rule, or policy; 2) imposed without adequate reason; or 3) based on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds. • Complaints can be submitted by the service recipient and other biological and legal representatives. • For any individual who interferes or impedes the ombudsman with the duties of the office or retaliates against anyone who files a complaint, that individual will be guilty of a misdemeanor, which includes a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail term of up to six months.
Kelly Anthon · SD-027
50 – 20
Amends existing law to provide immunity for employers who allow or do not prohibit employees to lawfully carry firearms.
This legislation furthers the protection of employers’ immunity of firearm storage by employees by adding immunity to when allowing employees to carry.
60 – 9