Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide an exception to the terms “outfitter” and “guide.”

This legislation establishes that all accredited postsecondary schools in Idaho receive an exception to the requirement of being a licensed outfitter through the Idaho Outfitters and Guides. Under existing law, the provision for state employees creates an exception for this requirement to public postsecondary schools but not private postsecondary schools. Any schools that meet this standard will continue to require federal/state permits to operate on federal and state lands.

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 2026.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Treasurer for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the State Treasurer provides enhancements to the FY 2026 budget that includes additional funding for Abnormal Cloud Email Security Software.

Amends existing law to increase the maximum tuition for community colleges.

This legislation increases the annual tuition cap and limits annual tuition increases at Idaho’s community colleges. The Legislature has not raised the community college tuition cap since 2008. As a result, artificially low tuition rates have had a distorting effect on the higher education marketplace. Demand for community college education has never been greater. Yet colleges are artificially constrained in their ability to meet that demand. They cannot pay faculty competitive salaries, especially in the fields most sought after by prospective students. They cannot acquire the necessary equipment to help students compete in high technology fields or resources to provide and maintain facilities to meet soaring demand. This bill updates the community college tuition cap to meet the realities of 2026. It raises the cap to $3,250 while continuing to limit annual tuition increases to no more than 10%. This will produce modest revenue increases for the colleges while minimizing the impact on students and their families. This legislation balances the pressing needs of community colleges with the Legislature’s desire to keep tuition rates reasonable.

Relates to the appropriation to the Endowment Fund Investment Board for fiscal year 2026.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding civics instruction.

This legislation updates the existing requirement that all secondary students demonstrate that they have met the state civics and government standards through the successful completion of the civics test as a graduation requirement. Rather than taking a “civics test” determined at the local level and based on the 100-question naturalization assessment, the new “civics test” will be developed by the State Department of Education and approved by the State Board of Education. This legislation outlines the components of the Idaho content standards in American government that must be included in this new test. This requirement would apply to all secondary students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Students graduating prior to January 1, 2029 who have satisfied the previous civics requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year are exempt from completing this new requirement.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding definitions and fee and financial disclosures and to establish provisions to provide for a period of declarant control, restrictions on board membership, and proxy votes.

This legislation clarifies definitions of Homeowners Associations, (HOA). It gives the homeowners of the development where they reside representation on an HOA board on or before 180 days after 75% of the lots are conveyed to the homeowner. It also outlines the complete transfer of the HOA within 12 months to the homeowner after 95% is built and occupied and addresses proxy votes.

States findings of the Legislature and rejects certain rules of the Industrial Commission relating to worker's compensation.

This legislation states the finding of the Legislature that certain rules of the Industrial Commission relating to Administrative Rules Under the Workers' Compensation Law are not consistent with the legislative intent and should be rejected, and are therefore declared null, void, and of no force and effect as of July 1, 2025.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding service of notice of hearings.

A Notice of Hearing is required to be sent by certified mail under Idaho Code 72-713, making it the only pleadings statutorily required to be served by the Industrial Commission in this manner. This legislation retains the requirement that the Commission give at least ten days written notice of hearing to the parties but eliminates the requirement that such notice must be served on the parties by certified mail. The amendment would allow for service of a Notice of Hearing to be made by regular mail, fax, or by email for represented parties. Self-represented claimants, also known as pro se claimants, will still receive notices by certified mail unless they choose to opt into electronic delivery.