Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
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.
69 – 0
Amends Laws of 2023 to define “Idaho residential street address.”
As a result of the 2023 enactment of Title 19, Chapter 62, Idaho Code, Idaho’s judicial officers may now request that public agencies not disclose their “Idaho residential street address and telephone number.” This new law seeks to increase the safety of judges and their families by guarding against persons identifying the location of a judge’s home. Since the location of a judicial officer’s home may also be identified by a legal description contained in the deed to that property, this bill will also protect against public disclosure of such a legal description. Specifically, this proposal sets forth an express definition of a judicial officer’s “Idaho residential street address” to include a legal description of real estate containing the location of such address. The addition of this specific definition provides clarity for both the judicial officers seeking to protect against the disclosure of the location of their homes and the public agencies handling requests for records containing information regarding such locations.
67 – 0
Amends existing law to provide that certain judges and magistrate judges shall be eligible to receive a bonus upon retirement and to revise a provision regarding the salary of the justices of the Supreme Court.
This legislation provides for an increase in judicial salaries by increasing the salary of supreme court justices from $165,212 to $169,508, which is an increase of $4,296, or 2.6%. Since the salary of court of appeals judges in set at $8,000 less than supreme court justices, district court judges are set at $6,000 below court of appeals judges, and magistrate judges are set at $8,000 less than district court judges, meaning each type of judge will receive a $4,296 increase. The percentage increase will be slightly higher for each of the types of judges, up to a 3.0% increase for magistrate judges. This legislation also provides a retirement bonus incentive for judges and justices who serve through the end of their term before retiring, if they do so in such a way as to allow their positions to be filled by election, rather than appointment. Magistrate judges are also included, although their positions are always filled by appointment. This one-time bonus would be $25,000.
Abby Lee · SD-009
32 – 2
Amends existing law to provide that certain qualified expenses for the Empowering Parents Grant program will be reimbursed, to establish provisions for reimbursements, and to provide that unused funds may be forfeited by a participant.
This legislation makes changes to the Empowering Parents Micro-grant program consistent with the recommendations of the Parent Advisory Panel. It provides for the following changes: 1) allows internet expenses to be subject to reimbursement instead of direct payment through the grant distribution platform, 2) clarifies that students in school districts and public charter schools are eligible to use the micro-grants for programs offered through their schools that have an associated fee, and 3) increases the allowable timeframe to expend the funds from 2 to 3 years.
60 – 10
Adds to existing law to provide public school teachers with $500 per year to spend on classroom and education expenses on behalf of their students.
Public school teachers do not receive dedicated monies for classroom supplies and typically purchase these out of their own pocket. In 2007, Superintendent Luna provided teachers $350 each year for classroom supplies which colloquially became known as “Luna Bucks”. This program ended in 2010 with the recession and teachers have not received classroom supply money since. This legislation provides public and charter teachers with prepaid $500 debit cards designated for the procurement of qualified classroom supplies. Eligible teachers are required to maintain receipts and transaction records for a duration of two years from the date of purchase. The Idaho Department of Education reserves the right to audit any transaction conducted by teachers within a two-year timeframe upon request. The eligible teacher or respective school is obliged to furnish records promptly upon request by the Idaho Department of Education. In the event of an unauthorized purchase, the teacher assumes responsibility for reimbursing the Idaho Department of Education. Any remaining funds at the end of the fiscal year may be carried over and utilized in subsequent years, for a maximum period of three years from the date of card issuance.
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, to revise provisions regarding School District Facilities Fund distributions and School Modernization Facilities Fund distributions, and to revise provisions regarding public charter school financial support and charter school authorizers.
This trailer bill to HB 521 makes the following changes: 1) It ensures that the executive officer of the state board is confirmed by the Senate; 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; 3) It ensures any misused dollars by a local school district are recaptured to the schools facilities fund and distributed to rural schools; 4) It amends to one-time distributions from the school district facilities fund; 5) It restores public charter school facility funds to what they were prior to unanticipated reductions from funding formulas impacted by the passage of HB 292 in 2023; and 6) It resolves a conflict within Section 33-5209A, Idaho Code.
Adds to existing law to provide for parental rights in medical decision-making.
The Parents' Rights in Medical Decision-making Act ensures that children, who often lack maturity and make choices without considering either immediate or long-term consequences, are protected by the informed decision-making of their parents, who possess the most knowledge and are in the best position to ensure that their children receive adequate medical attention. The rights secured by this Act flow out of the rights recognized by the Idaho Parental Rights Act, Idaho Code Ann. §§ 32-1010 through -1014, which are "rooted in the due process of law guaranteed pursuant to Section 13, Article I, of the constitution of the state of Idaho." This Act clarifies that consent for the furnishing of health care services to any person who is an unemancipated minor must be given or refused by the parent of such person. The Act further declares that a parent has a right to access health information relating to the parent's minor child. Finally, the Act is intended to supersede any current provisions of Idaho law that may otherwise conflict with the Act.
Heather Scott · HD-002A
59 – 11
Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Career Technical Education for fiscal year 2025.
ThisappropriationtotheDivisionofCareerTechnicalEducation,organizedundertheStateBoardofEducation, provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes program inventory system expansion, educator training staff, an increase to fire service training hours, and the additional 2% CEC.
Dave Lent · SD-033
23 – 10
Relates to the maintenance appropriation to General Government for fiscal year 2025.
This is the FY 2025 Maintenance Appropriation for General Government. This bill includes appropriations to the Department of Administration, Office of the Governor, and the Department Revenue and Taxation. The appropriation includes standard adjustments for benefit costs, inflationary adjustments, statewide cost allocation, and change in employee compensation.
Scott Grow · SD-014
28 – 7
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding certain disclosures and to provide for a restriction on transfer fees.
Thislegislationclarifiesthatahomeowner’sassociation(HOA)ortheiragentmaynotchargeafeeforproviding a property owner with their statement of assessment account. This legislation also prohibits an HOA from charging a transfer fee unless it is expressly allowed by the CC&Rs.
James Ruchti · SD-029
33 – 1
Repeals and adds to existing law to establish the Money Transmission Modernization Act.
The legislation replaces the existing Idaho Money Transmitter Act with the model Money Transmission Modernization Act. The model Act was developed by an association of state agencies tasked with money transmitter supervision along with members of the money services business industry, with the intent to ensure state agencies can coordinate in the supervision of money services business, to protect the public from financial crimes, to standardize licensing, and to modernize licensing requirements to ensure customer funds are protected in an environment that supports innovative and competitive business practices. The model Act sets forth provisions concerning money transmission licenses; acquisition of control; reporting and records; authorized delegates; timely transmission, refunds, and disclosures; prudential standards; and enforcement.
Relates to the appropriation to the Executive Office of the Governor for fiscal year 2025.
ThisappropriationtotheExecutiveOfficeoftheGovernorprovidesenhancementstotheFY2025maintenance budget that includes a constituent services management system and the additional 2% CEC.
Carl Bjerke · SD-005
69 – 0
Adds to existing law to authorize the Governor to develop and execute an interstate compact for border security, to provide that congressional approval shall not be required, and to require certain provisions be included in an interstate compact.
This legislation is titled Interstate Compact for Border Security. This legislation will provide legislative approval for the Governor to enter into a formal compact with other states to take action to secure the internationalbordersoftheUnitedStates. NormallytheConstitutionoftheUnitedSatesrequirescongressional approval before a compact between states is effective. However, there is an exception to this requirement at Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 when an invasion is taking place or when there are circumstances that must be addressed immediately and there is no time to wait for the congressional process. The Interstate Compact For Border Security falls in this exceptions authority and will empower our governor to take action quickly when such action is necessary and a delay in response on the part of the governor would be detrimental to Idaho and or to the other state with which we have entered into this compact.
Tammy Nichols · SD-010
48 – 20
Adds to existing law to provide for relief 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 provisions regarding the duration and renewal of occupational and professional licenses.
The purpose of this legislation is to update all licensure renewals under the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to a biennial renewal cycle, with an expiration date at the licensee's birth month. This will allow for consistency in renewal cycles throughout the Division.
34 – 0
Amends and repeals existing law to streamline and simplify relevant code sections pursuant to the Governor's Red Tape Reduction Act.
As part of the Governor's Red Tape Reduction Act the Idaho Public Utilities Commission has gone through relevant code sections to streamline and simplify Idaho Code in Title 61 and 62. This legislation would repeal 35 sections of Idaho Code.
70 – 0
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. The Idaho Parental Choice Grant portion of the legislation also calls for a grant of up to $5,000 that would allow 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.
Amends and adds to existing law to provide for a strategic plan for school districts and public charter schools and to provide for a certain training for school district board of trustee members and public charter school board of directors members.
The legislation reduces reporting requirements by eliminating the Continuous Improvement Plan requirements. Replacing the Continuous Improvement Plan with a district’s locally-developed strategic plan provides increased flexibility in how a district or charter chooses to identify and measure student outcomes that are important to their local communities. To ensure strategic plan development, specific to student outcomes and accountability, the bill outlines the frequency and type of school board training required for successful oversight and accountability. The primary goal of the legislation is to build school board capacity and drive continued student achievement in Idaho schools. Boards properly trained to review and discuss student achievement data provide the accountability required to ensure all students learn at a high level.
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 Division of Medicaid provides a $277,954,700 reduction to the FY 2024 budget, of which $92,807,600 is from the General Fund. Contributing factors to the lower-than-anticipated costs include the end of the public health emergency, and drops in utilization and enrollment. This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Division of Medicaid provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that include nondiscretionary adjustments, new staff division-wide, providerrateadjustments, intermediatecarefacilityrateadjustments, anMMISvendorincrease, funding for personal care services case management, MMIS procurement year 2, an Idaho Millennium Income Fund offset for claims payments, and the additional 2% CEC. Additionally, this bill provides reappropriation authority. This bill also provides adjustments to the FY 2024 appropriation for the Division of Medicaid. Looking at Table 2 below, adjustments include a onetime forecasted recission, an ongoing reduction related to the end of an electronic records incentive program, and adjustments to the Hospital Assessment Fund. Overall, the total FY 2025 appropriation for the Division of Medicaid represents 0.6% increase over the FY 2024 Original Appropriation.
Julie VanOrden · SD-030
39 – 30
Amends existing law to permit certain qualified chiropractors to evaluate and authorize return to play for youth athletes who are suspected of having sustained a concussion during school athletic activities.
This legislation adds an Idaho licensed chiropractic physician to the list of qualified health professionals permitted to return a youth athlete to participation in a sport after healing from a diagnosed concussion. It also allows a chiropractic physician to evaluate a youth athlete for a suspected concussion and determine their ability to continue participating in a sporting event. To "return to play", the chiropractic physician must have successfully completed a board of chiropractic physicians approved concussion management education program. The program must include instruction on comprehensive concussion and other brain injury evaluation, ongoing reassessment of patient, recognition of atypical response to brain injury, implementation of appropriate plan of care, return to activity determination, and referral to appropriate health care provider as indicated. The standards for the qualifying education program mirror the standards put forth by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education for an athletic trainer master's degree program. Within Idaho statute,chiropracticphysiciansareauthorizedtosuperviseathletictrainersincarryingouttheirdutiesasdefined by their scope of practice.
33 – 2
Adds to existing law to prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures on certain privately owned lands.
This legislation extends existing, court recognized protections against warrantless search to lands beyond the curtilage of a citizen's residence.
States findings of the Legislature and authorizes the Legislative Council to appoint a committee to undertake and complete a study of diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice initiatives at Idaho's public postsecondary educational institutions.
This Concurrent Resolution would authorize the Legislative Council to appoint an interim committee to undertake and complete a study of the prevalence and impacts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice ideology in Idaho's postsecondary institutions, including any associated policies, procedures, staffing, and related costs.
Amends and adds to existing law to provide that notice of intent prior to an agreement taking effect shall be required in certain instances.
This bill requires any state agency, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, and institution of the state, including the public utilities commission and any state institution of higher education to give 30 days notice via e-mail to legislators, newspapers, television stations and on their own entities website of any agreementtheyintendtoenterinwhichthetransactionis$25millionormoreinactualstateobligationorvalue. RFP proposals, emergency expenditures, legal settlements, ITD projects which comply with their bid process, and expenditures authorized by the legislature are exempt. Approval of the transaction is void if the notice is not given as required.
Amends existing law to revise the boundaries of Cassia County and Minidoka County.
This legislation makes corrections to the county boundaries of Minidoka and Cassia counties. Presently, two definitions exist for the boundary, in which certain parcels or islands within the Snake River are located in neither county.
33 – 0
Adds to existing law to allow for telehealth behavioral health services on public school premises.
To provide increased access to behavioral health in public school or charter schools. This outlines the safety and security to provide mental health services in a secure and confidential manner via telehealth by mental health professionals authorized to provide these services in the state of Idaho.
49 – 21