Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Amends existing law to provide that recreation districts may enter into certain intergovernmental agreements.
This legislation enables recreation districts to join government entities as defined in section 67-8203(14) to enter into intergovernmental agreements for the purpose of developing joint plans for capital improvements, or for the purpose of agreeeing to collect and expend impact fees for system improvements, or both.
Relates to the appropriation to the State Tax Commission for fiscal year 2025.
This is a FY 2025 appropriation bill for the Idaho State Tax Commission. It appropriates a total of $53,510,500 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 440.00. The bill funds two FY 2025 enhancements which provides additional funding for IT equipment modernization, and transfers appropriation from each of the four other programs to the General Services program consolidating technology and innovation in one program.
Adds to existing law to prohibit ballot harvesting, to provide certain exceptions, and to establish penalties for violations.
This legislation addresses the issue of “ballot harvesting” – which is the practice of third party individuals and groups, many of them political activists or political parties, “harvesting” absentee or mail ballots from voters and then delivering them to election officials for processing and counting. This legislation would generally prohibit this practice by limiting ballot handling to those authorized to do so pursuant to Idaho law. Idaho has not historically experienced ballot harvesting at scale. However, it has become a widespread practice in some other states, where its practice places many voters’ ballots, and the sanctity of their vote, into the hands of those who may have a partisan interest in the election’s outcome. These individuals may have a political incentive to deliver certain ballots to the county clerk, but not others, based on the ballot harvester’s perception, or a social/political database’s report, of the likely choices of the voter. The specifics of this legislation are informed by the recommendations of the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, in their 2005 report, Building Confidence in U.S. Elections. This legislation would limit ballot handling to election officials, U.S. Mail and common carrier employees and contractors, family members, caregivers, members of the voter’s household, and anyone hired by the voter to convey the ballot.
Joe Alfieri · HD-004A
28 – 6
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding school board recall elections, vacancies, and quorums.
This legislation provides the transaction of business can still occur when one or more vacancies exist on a board of trustees if a majority of remaining members of the board are present. It also clarifies that, if a special recall election is successful, a vacancy exists at the time the election is certified by the board of county commissions, and that the board of trustees does not have to declare the vacancy. Lastly, it clarifies that a trustee, subject to recall, is ineligible to vote on any actions that would alter the structures of the board or create new contractual or financial obligations for the school district between the period of the special recall election and when the board of county commissioners certified the election.
18 – 16
Adds to existing law to establish the Medical Ethics Defense Act.
The freedom to live and work consistent with one's conscience is fundamental to our society. Nowhere is that more important than in health care, where doctors and nurses must be able to follow the Hippocratic Oath to "Do No Harm." The purpose of this legislation is to recognize and protect the rights of conscience for health care professionals and health care entities when they are asked to provide medical services which go against their conscience. There are provisions to prevent discrimination or retaliation, and the legislation provides for a civil action for damages. Our state deals with physician and nursing shortages, and we should not be pushing people out of the practice of medicine and limiting access to care because there are particular medical procedures that they cannot it good faith provide. When we protect rights of conscience for health care professionals and health care institutions, we are really protecting the quality of care that will be available to our families for years to come.
Amends existing law to revise the definition of “Internal Revenue Code.”
This bill relates to income taxes. It is the annual bill to update references to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The bill conforms the Idaho Income tax code to changes made to the IRC that affect the 2023 tax year. The Idaho income tax code uses federal taxable income as a starting point for both businesses and individuals. Our tax forms use federal adjusted gross income as a starting point. Idaho uses a static conformity to a specific date, currently January 1, 2023. This bill updates Idaho Code section 63-3004, to January 1, 2024. Using Federal taxable income as a starting point saves a tremendous amount of duplicate work. The Idaho Legislature can still decide to which items it will conform to. Not conforming at all would cause a lot of extra work and confusion for individuals, businesses, and the tax preparation industry.
34 – 0
Amends existing law to exempt federally recognized Indian tribes from the definition of “foreign government,” such that certain restrictions regarding real property will not apply to them, and to include forest land as one of the kinds of property that a foreign government may not purchase.
Idaho law prohibits a foreign government or foreign state-controlled enterprise from purchasing, acquiring or holding any controlling interest in agriculture land, water rights, mining claims or mineral rights in the State of Idaho. This clarifies that forest land is included and that federally recognized Indian Tribes are not foreign governments.
34 – 0
Adds to existing law to provide for equality in financial services.
This legislation prohibits large financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on their political or religious views. It applies only to banks with assets over $100,000,000,000 or payment processing companies that process over $100,000,000,000 per year. These institutions would be prohibited from using social credit scores or any nonfinancial criteria. Social credit scores do not include assessing financial risks based on impartial and quantifiable financial risk-based standards. If a customer is denied access to financial services, he or she has the right to request the reason for the denial from the financial institution. Enforcement of the legislation resides with the Attorney General.
Amends and adds to existing law to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to support teachers unions.
This legislation would prohibit public officials from allowing public funds, personnel, facilities, and other resources from being used to support teachers unions. Specifically, it would prohibit public officials from: • Contributing public funds to, or expending those funds on behalf of, a teachers union. • Compensating or providing paid leave to a teacher to engage in activities on behalf of a teachers union, unless the union reimburses the district for the value of the teacher’s time. • Increasing a teacher’s pay when that increase is intended to pay teacher union dues. • Granting a teachers union greater access to or use of the school district’s meetings, events, facilities, communications systems, computer systems, equipment, supplies, or other resources on terms more favorable than extended to any other teachers union or nonprofit organization. • Providing more of a teacher’s personal information to a union than would be disclosable under the Public Records Act, unless the teacher authorizes the disclosure. • Requiring teachers to meet or interact with a teachers union if they do not wish to do so. • Distributing communications or membership solicitations on behalf of a teachers union.
31 – 38
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Species Conservation for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Office of the Species Conservation provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes 1.00 FTP and funding for a new fiscal staff member; funding to receive grants; and the additional 2% CEC.
25 – 10
Relates to the appropriation to the Military Division for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This additional appropriation to the Military Division provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget, which include a net-zero transfer for temporary employees, employee development costs, construction and facilities maintenance, replacement items, the additional 2% change in employee compensation, and IT consolidation. The bill also provides an additional appropriation to the division for FY 2024 for construction and facilities maintenance and previously committed project costs. Lastly, it reimburses the division for costs incurred for the cleanup of hazardous materials incidents throughout Idaho authorized under Section 39-7110, Idaho Code.
Van Burtenshaw · SD-031
26 – 9
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.
Currently, in Idaho, there is no minimum age for criminal prosecution. This legislation changes the juvenile offender definition to disallow criminal prosecution of minors under the age of ten (10), except for the crime of murder in the first or second degree.
Adds to existing law to establish provisions to protect minors from harmful material on the internet.
This legislation establishes the Online Child Safety Act. Our kids are afflicted with a destructive pornography epidemic, and there are no real accountability measures that prevent online publishers from making it accessible to them. In keeping with Article III section 24 of the Idaho Constitution, which states that "The foremost concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people, and the purity of the home," Idaho Code § 18-1515 already prohibits "disseminating material harmful to minors." Today's internet environment thwarts the enforceability of the existing language. This legislation empowers parents of harmed children with standing to sue perpetrating content providers for a civil remedy if they fail to take reasonable steps to ensure they are not providing such content to minors.
Glenneda Zuiderveld · SD-024
33 – 0
Amends existing law to provide for a canvass report after votes are cast for elected offices.
This legislation updates the requirements of the canvass period following an election. The canvass is the review of votes cast by the clerk's office following election day and before the board of canvassers meets to make the results official. This changes the abstract of results to become a canvass report to be more in line with the best practices around the country. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has published suggested best practices for what should be included in a canvass. This bill will allow many of those practices to be put in place in Idaho, giving more information to the board of canvassers and the public following an election.
34 – 0
Adds to existing law to provide for a notice of rights regarding union membership and to provide a limitation on labor organization access to state and local employee information.
This legislation requires employers whose employees are represented by a labor organization to annually provide a notice informing employees that union membership is voluntary, and they have the right to join or refrain from joining and paying a labor union without discrimination. Additionally, this bill prohibits the distribution or sale of mailing or telephone number lists by public agencies to labor unions without permission, with specific exemptions and penalties for deliberate violations. These changes aim to inform employees about their rights regarding union membership and protect privacy in the distribution of personal information by public agencies.
Relates to the appropriation to the Commission on the Arts for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Commission on the Arts provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that include an increase in grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the additional 2% change in employee compensation.
23 – 12
Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for Health Education Programs for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Health Education Programs organized under the State Board of Education provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes funding for new residencies and the additional 2% CEC.
Janie Ward-Engelking · SD-018
23 – 12
Amends existing law to authorize investigations and actions against city and county officers by the attorney general.
The Attorney General has concurrent jurisdiction to investigate and, if necessary, prosecute elected county officials for state crimes committed when acting in their official capacity. This legislation expands the Attorney General's jurisdiction to include elected city officials. The purpose of this legislation is to take advantage of the expertise the Attorney General's Office has developed for investigating and prosecuting cases involving public corruption.
17 – 17
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding security requirements in certain actions or proceedings involving the sale of timber.
This legislation will require a bond for any person or entity delaying or preventing the cutting or removal of timber by a purchaser of a Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) sale.
32 – 1
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding adoption of a temporary rule and regarding legislative review of incorporated material, to provide that an agency shall make incorporated material available on its website, and to require the periodic review of administrative rules.
This bill makes three substantive changes to the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act. Firstly, it narrows the extremely broad language concerning Temporary Rules; Secondly, it addresses legislative oversight of material incorporated by reference in administrative rules, and thirdly, prior to the 8 year review, the schedule of which is to be established by the administrative rules coordinator, each agency is required to legitimize the reasoning and necessity of each rule chapter being reviewed.
33 – 0
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding signatures for initiative petitions.
This legislation streamlines the signature verification process for petition signatures on statewide referendums. By instituting a monthly submission schedule and extending the verification period to 90 days, this legislation will increase transparency in the initiative process and reduce administrative burden. It also creates a review period to enhance civic engagement and accountability.
49 – 20
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.”
29 – 3
Amends existing law to change library board elections from once every six years to once every four years.
This legislation amends Idaho Code to change the terms of library district trustees from six (6) year terms to four (4) year terms. The change will take effect on January 1. 2025 and apply to elections held in 2025 and going forward. All trustees elected through 2023 will fulfill their original six-year terms.
61 – 9
Amends and repeals existing law relating to the sale, transfer, or disposition of state administrative facilities.
This legislation repeals Section 67-5709A, which creates a separate process for the sale of the state administrative facilities in the custody or control of the State of Idaho.
Adds to existing law to establish a procedure for bidders to challenge an administrator's decision under certain circumstances.
Unlike other states, Idaho does not have a statutory process for appealing public works project awards. Until two years ago, there was no process at all. In 2022, the Division of Public Works and the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council adopted a policy to create a process. This bill codifies a challenge and appeals process, building on what has worked well over the past two years and making modifications where lessons have been learned.