Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Amends existing law to revise penalties for a failure to possess required motor vehicle insurance and to provide for the towing of a vehicle in certain circumstances.
This bill would accomplish several things. First, it would reiterate in code that peace officers can give warnings for not carrying automobile insurance as some individuals fail to carry simply for not realizing it lapsed at the end of the year, giving some grace while also putting them on notice. Second, if an individual has three warnings, that individual demonstrated they disregarded the warnings and laws for the road and must have their vehicle towed as they are a danger on the road. Thirdly, if an uninsured individual is in a wreck, their vehicle will be towed regardless of who is at fault. Lastly, this bill raises the first-time offense penalty for driving without insurance from $75.00 to $200.00. Currently, Idaho has the lowest first-time fine of any state that has fines for driving without insurance (there are a couple of states with no fine or a reinstatement fee). Additionally, Idaho was ranked as having the cheapest automobile insurance in the United States by a Forbes advisor article, published in October 2023.
Rod Furniss · HD-031B
Amends and adds to existing law to include instruction for current adoption practices.
If a local school district decides to have a family life and sex education program, this legislation would have them include information on adoption for the well-being of a child.
64 – 2
Adds to existing law to clarify the duties of the state board of land commissioners in the lease of state endowment trust lands, to require bonds under certain circumstances, and to provide for rulemaking.
ThislegislationrequirestheBoardofLandsandtheDepartmentofLandstodeveloppolicyguidanceforleasing activities. Leases must include terms and conditions that ensure sustainable management and stewardship in line with the type of use. Some land use types may require a bond to ensure reclamation and restoration.
34 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding public defense for indigent persons in this state.
Prior to establishment of the Office of the State Public Defender in 2023, counties were responsible to pay for representation for indigent individuals. This legislation provides clarification that the Office of the State Public Defender now has responsibility to provide coverage and payment for representation for which counties had responsibility prior to the creation of the Office of the State Public Defender, as well as any statutorily required coverage. This bill also creates a fund to coordinate statewide payments for Guardian Ad Litem representation previously paid by individual counties. A separate account is necessary to ensure a delineation from any funds for representation of indigent individuals in other cases.
69 – 0
Amends existing law to provide for the use of development impact fees for school facilities.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide public school districts with the authority to collect development impact fees. Development impact fees collected by public school districts would be limited in their use to capital improvements. By giving public school districts this ability, the ability for new growth to pay for itself is increased and the need for public school districts to use bonding authority to raise funds for capital improvements may be reduced. Consequentially, the property tax burden on property taxpayers within the affected school district may decrease as a result of decreased need for public school districts to utilize their bonding authority
Lauren Necochea · HD-019A
Amends and adds to existing law to provide requirements for launch and transport of conveyances and to provide that a portion of annual revenue deposited in the invasive species fund may be made available to counties, cities, and other local entities for certain equipment and supplies.
This legislation amends Idaho Code § 22-1904 to further define "conveyance" as "retail or wholesale products, or water known to carry or have a reasonable possibility of carrying invasive species." Up to twenty percent of the invasive species fund's annual revenue is also to be made available by the department to counties, cities, or other local entities for equipment and supply costs necessary for the operation of watercraft inspection stations. Additionally, thislegislationcreatesanewsectionofcoderequiringimmediateremovalofvegetationandwater drainage from conveyances. Nonresidential vehicles must also carry an invasive species sticker and must be inspected at a watercraft inspection station prior to launch.
54 – 14
Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes funding and FTP for court technology support, statewide administrative support, Guardian Ad Litem support, Judicial Council support, replacement items, and the additional 2% CEC.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
26 – 8
Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Public Health Services Division provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that include a public health infrastructure grant; laboratory operating costs; laboratory information management modernization; a state loan repayment; a Maternal, Infant, and Early Child Home Visiting (MIECHV) program formula grant increase; data modernization; vital records modernization; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) modernization; vital statistics modernization; funding for additional WIC staff; data processing modernization; immunization awards to public health districts and tribes; adult vaccine provider support; childhood lead poisoning prevention; Alzheimer's and dementia grants; rural physician loan repayment; disease investigation and control; data analytics personnel funding; HIV Care program receipt authority; Ryan White Part B supplemental grant funding; and the additional 2% CEC. In addition, this bill moves ongoing funding to onetime for multiple programs; removes funding for COVID grantfunding; andremovesfundingforsexeducationgrants. ThisbillalsoprovidesadjustmentstotheFY2024 appropriation for Physical Health Services and Laboratory Services. Looking at Table 2 below, adjustments include funding for the HIV Care Program drug rebates, a onetime transfer of personnel costs to operating expenditures, and a dedicated fund adjustment for the Cancer Data Registry of Idaho.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
61 – 6
Relates to the maintenance appropriation to Economic Development for fiscal year 2025.
This is the FY 2025 Maintenance Appropriation for Economic Development. This bill includes appropriations to the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, the Department of Finance, the Idaho Industrial Commission, the Department of Insurance, the Department of Labor, the Public Utilities Commission, the Self-Governing Agencies, and the Idaho Transportation Department. The appropriation includes standard adjustments for benefit costs, inflationary adjustments, statewide cost allocation, and change in employee compensation.
Scott Grow · SD-014
57 – 11
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the delivery of water within subdivisions and certain civil actions and to provide for consideration of ground water when amending, repealing, or adopting a comprehensive plan.
This legislation addresses the use of exempt domestic wells in subdivisions. In particular, the legislation: 1) requires the use of shared or public water systems in subdivisions with 10 or more lots (where each lot is 5 acres or smaller; 2) requires that surface water being used for irrigation on land must continue to be used for irrigation when that land is developed, and 3) authorizes a county to consider water supply conditions in the comprehensive planning process.
Kelly Anthon · SD-027
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding contested cases and the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Since 1992 when the definition of contested case was added to IDAPA, the proceedings of the Idaho Personnel Commission and driver’s license suspension contested case hearings at ITD had been contested cases under I.C. § 67-5240. With the passage of H.B. 629 (2022) which created the Office of Administrative Hearings, it appearstherewasadesiretoexempttheIdahoPersonnelCommissionanddriver’slicensesuspensioncontested case hearings at ITD from the Office of Administrative Hearings. In reality, H.B. 629 (2022) exempted these hearings from IDAPA entirely. This bill reverses the change made in 2022 to the definition of contested case and instead exempts them from the required use of the Office of Administrative Hearings. The Idaho Personnel Commission and ITD were consulted on this bill and do not oppose it.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to provide that subscribing to certain elective oaths of office shall create a vacancy in any other office held.
This legislation adds to the circumstances under which elective local offices would be considered vacant, to include when the local government office holder becomes a federal, statewide, or state legislative office holder. It would not apply to those who hold state legislative office as a temporary or emergency successor. This change will ensure that a federal, statewide, or state legislative office holder’s full attention and focus is given to the high office to which they have been elected, and their interest in the well-being of the citizens of their state or district is neither divided nor weighted. In addition, it prevents the concentration of power and allows more voices to be heard and represented in all facets of our government.
35 – 34
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education for fiscal year 2025.
This is the trailer appropriation bill to House Bill 634, which changes the state agency that oversees the Broadband Infrastructure Fund from the State Department of Education to the Office of the State Board of Education.
Scott Grow · SD-014
33 – 0
Relates to the appropriation to the to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes funding and FTP for court technology support, statewide administrative support, Guardian Ad Litem support, Judicial Council support, replacement items, and the additional 2% CEC.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
15 – 20
Adds to existing law to establish the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council.
ThislegislationestablishesanArtificialIntelligence(AI)AdvisoryCouncil. Thecouncilincludessixmembers: one House member, one Senate member, and then four AI experts/professionals. The Office of Information Technology Services will serve as a technical advisor to the council. Council members will be responsible for reviewing existing applications of AI in state government and identifying potential state-level AI policies for consideration by the legislature and the governor.
41 – 26
Amends existing law to revise the definition of “in-demand careers” for the Idaho Launch Grant program.
This legislation updates the definition of "in-demand careers" to establish additional criteria for weighing economic output and mobility. Factors include but are not limited to, the number of openings, rate of growth, skill transferability, length of program training, and wage potential. In addition, any in-demand careers that require more than a bachelor's degree are excluded from grant consideration.
25 – 10
Adds to existing law to establish a presidential preference primary election.
This legislation adds section to Chapter 7, Title 34, Idaho Code in establishing the presidential preference primary in Idaho. This legislation also identifies the date which the voters will express their preferred choice of candidates for nomination by a political party for president. This legislation also put in place the Secretary of State’s responsibilities during the presidential primary elections.
31 – 4
Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes the elimination of the Fair Hearings Unit for cases now being heard at the Office of Administrative Hearings, a civil litigation and constitutional defense attorney, two energy and natural resources attorneys, two Transportation Department attorneys, replacement items, and the additional 2% CEC. This bill also includes a FY 2024 supplemental appropriation for trial costs related to the Tucker v. Public Defense Commission lawsuit.
Dave Lent · SD-033
49 – 20
Repeals and adds to existing law to exempt Idaho from daylight saving time.
The proposed legislation would eliminate the twice-yearly switch to Daylight Savings Time, and would take effect in coordination with at least two other neighboring states which are enacting similar legislation. Remaining on Standard Time would reduce numerous health and safety risks associated with changing clocks in spring and fall.
43 – 26
Amends existing law to provide that no election needs to be held for unopposed offices in cities with a population under 100,000.
This bill requires cities with a population of more than one hundred thousand, to hold a city election for an unopposed office where only one person filed a declaration of intent of candidacy for mayor and/or city council member, and publish the candidate’s name on the ballot.
55 – 14
Adds to existing law to provide for relief and prohibiting the publication of synthetic media in electioneering communications, to establish provisions regarding an action prohibiting the publication of synthetic media in electioneering communications, and to provide exceptions.
Thislegislationaddressestheuseof"deepfakes"generatedbyartificialintelligenceandotherdigitaltechnology in electioneering. A candidate whose image, appearance or speech has been manipulated in an electioneering communication using digital means so as to create a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than occurred in reality, the candidate may seek injunctive relief as well as general and/or special damages. It shall be an affirmative defense that the electioneering communication included sufficient disclosure that the image, video or audio representation was manipulated.
Amends existing law to revise benefit formula provisions.
This legislation modifies the maximum duration of regular unemployment benefits and simplifies the existing complex benefit duration formula. Current law uses two variables to determine whether an unemployment claimantiseligibleforbetween10and26weeksofbenefits. Thislegislationproposesthatforpart-timeworkers a flat maximum of 10 weeks of benefits should be available, and for full-time workers a flat maximum of 14 weeks of benefits should be available. Furthermore, this bill allows for "attached" employees, or seasonal employees, to be eligible for an additional 6 weeks of benefits. This will help address the ongoing worker shortage in Idaho promoting a faster return to work for recently unemployed workers.
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding comprehensive plans and areas of impact.
This legislation is the result of a cooperative effort by local government and other stakeholders. Impact areas are areas outside city limits where cities plan growth in the near future. This legislation acknowledges the respective jurisdiction of the counties and the cities and seeks to balance their interests. The bill provides criteria for impact area boundary decisions, establishes a two-mile distance standard and provides a five year planning time frame for impact areas. It promotes cooperation between counties and cities in determining impact area boundaries but makes it clear that the jurisdiction and decision regarding the impact area boundary remains with the county. It also provides for a focused and timely process for the court to review decisions when a county and city disagree.
Todd Lakey · SD-023
69 – 1
Adds to existing law to establish a tax credit and a grant program for certain private school tuition and education expenses and to establish a grant fund in the state treasury.
The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit legislation provides for a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 for a parent or guardian that incurs qualified education expenses for an eligible student. "Qualified expenses" include kindergarten through twelfth grade tuition and fees related to attending a nonpublic school, tutoring, taking assessments used to determine college admission, costs for textbooks, curriculum, and transportation costs for the purposes of receiving academic instruction. It also means a micro school or learning pod that provides academic instruction from a certified Idaho teacher. TheIdahoParentalChoiceGrantportionofthelegislationalsocallsforagrantofupto$5,000thatwouldallow lower income Idahoans to participate in the refundable tax credit. The grant program would be administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission. Both, the refundable tax credit and grant limits increase up to $7,500 for special needs students that require ancillary personnel to assist in academic instruction. The Idaho State Tax Commission has the ability to audit records, receipts and documents similar to all tax filings to ensure accountability. The Idaho State Tax Commission may refer suspected cases of fraud to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution.
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 as a means to prevent or slow the spread of a contagious or infectious disease; it also provides relevant definitions.