Idaho Bills
718 bills · 2024 Regular Session
Relates to the appropriation to the Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension Service for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the University of Idaho Agriculture Research and Extension Service provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that include occupancy costs at the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health in Parma, new faculty positions in irrigation and forestry, the continuation of adult literacy programs, and the additional 2% CEC.
Van Burtenshaw · SD-031
28 – 6
Amends existing law to require the superintendent of public instruction to authorize funding from the Public Charter School Revolving Loan Fund upon the approval of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.
The Public Charter School Revolving Loan Fund was established July 1, 2023, after S1043 became law. The purposeofthelawistoprovidenewpubliccharterschoolswithazeropercentinterestloanofupto$2.5million to assist the schools with facility acquisition, construction or renovation. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) administers the loan. Upon implementation, it was discovered that a technical correction needed to be made to the statute. The State Treasurer needs to direct that funds from the public charter school revolving loan fund be withdrawn and distributed to the school upon certification by IHFA that school meets the loan requirements. This proposed legislation includes that correction. This amendment is needed because IHFA does not have authority to withdraw and distribute funds from the public charter school revolving loan fund.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to include health care sharing ministries as an eligible medical expense.
This legislation would provide that Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) expenses are eligible medical expenses for Medical Savings Accounts (MSA). In Idaho, MSAs enable Idahoans to receive tax deduction benefits for up to $10,000 of health related expenses paid out of their Medical Savings Account. Under current Idaho law, citizens can only use their MSA for eligible medical, vision, and dental expenses (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code), along with health insurance and supplemental Medicare premiums and long-term care expenses. Due to the fact that HCSMs are not insurance companies and are not as well known, the tax code does not explicitly address their status. Currently, Idaho HCSM members are unable to utilize an MSA for HCSM expenses that serve a similar purpose to insurance premiums. Members of HCSMs financially assist fellow members with large medical expenses rendering a result usually provided by health insurance. However, their costs do not have tax parity with health insurance premiums. Like health insurance policyholders, members of HCSMs make payments that go toward assisting fellow members with medical expenses. Share fees paid to HCSMs are also not tax deductible, even though HCSMs are nonprofit organizations, due to the possibility of those funds being used on the member’s own health expenses.
55 – 12
Adds to existing law to provide for the crimes of impeding critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure trespass.
This legislation creates a penalty for critical infrastructure impeding and trespassing. The bill includes provisions for misdemeanor and felony charges based on the circumstances of the action. Misdemeanor impeding: For individuals who plead or are found guilty, sentencing may include up to six months in jail and a fine up to $10,000. Felony impeding: For individuals who plead or are found guilty if damages are more than $10,000, sentencing includes up to two years in a state penitentiary and a fine up to $100,000 (not to exceed the damage or economic loss). Misdemeanor trespassing: For individuals who plead or are found guilty for the first time, sentencing may include up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Felony trespassing: For any person who pleads or is found guilty of trespassing for a second time within five years, it qualifies as a felony with a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000. A separate fine of up to $100,000 exists for an individual or organization that solicits critical infrastructure impeding or trespassing. This legislation does not limit any activities protected under the U.S. or Idaho Constitutions.
Amends existing law to exempt certain subcontractors from licensure, to increase a dollar amount related to an exemption, and to eliminate a class of licensure.
This Legislation improves local government options when selecting contractors and sub-contractors for construction projects. By changing the project value amount requiring a Public Works contractor license from $50,000 to $100,000, more contractors will be able to bid on small-scale local government projects without the need for a Public Works license. One class of Public Works licensing has also been eliminated as a result of this change.
35 – 0
States findings of the Legislature, directs the Department of Insurance to collect certain data, and recognizes October 9, 2024, as PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day.
Some insurers in Idaho cover medically necessary IVIG treatment for children who suffer from PANDAS/PANS. Some, however, deny this coverage for potentially outdated reasons; this failure to cover this medically necessary treatment is leading to brain, behavioral and other health problems for some of the approximately 400 Idaho children who need and can benefit from IVIG treatment. Because some insurers cover IVIG treatment and some don’t, market distortions are increasingly placing the coverage burden on a subset of providers. This is leading to market failure and one that is jeopardizing the health and safety of a few hundred Idaho children. This resolution does two things. First, it calls for the Department of Insurance to work with leaders of the private insurance industry to address this market failure by ensuring needed coverage throughout the market and reporting back to the legislature before next session. Second, it declares October 9 of this year to be PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day in Idaho.
50 – 14
Amends existing law to exclude grazing leases from certain hearing requirements and to provide that all state lands may be leased for a period of up to 40 years for grazing leases.
This legislation would extend grazing leases to a potential maximum length of 40 years for State endowment lands. Currently, grazing leases have a maximum length of 20 years. Extension of the lease length would create greater predictability for those obtaining a grazing lease because they would be able to plan how they handle and care for the lease over a longer term. Additionally, it would provide longer term consistency for the Idaho Department of Lands in creating constant revenue for the endowment fund from grazing leases.
69 – 0
States findings of the Legislature and approves pending rules of the Department of Environmental Quality reviewed by the House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee and the Senate Resources and Environment Committee.
This Concurrent Resolution shows the shows that the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee reviewed and approved pending rules adopted by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
68 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to provide for assistant physicians and to provide for general practice licensure under certain circumstances.
This legislation expands Idaho’s bridge physician licensure program by creating a direct pathway for bridge physicians to become a licensed general practitioner without entering a residency program. This is designed to alleviate the physician shortage by allowing smaller healthcare providers to train the physician workforce where they are needed. This legislation renames bridge physicians as “assistant physicians.” After completing a minimum of three years as an assistant physician and successfully passing the final step of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, a candidate may apply for an unrestricted license to practice as a general practitioner.
Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho Commission for Libraries for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Idaho Commission for Libraries provides enhancements to the FY 2025 budget that include funding for summer STEM programs, the continuation of the digital access for all Idahoans grant, the additional 2% CEC, and reappropriation authority.
Kevin Cook · SD-032
47 – 23
Amends and adds to existing law to provide that the state shall not act as the incorporator of a corporation and to establish provisions regarding the reformation or disassociation of certain corporations.
This legislation ensures accountability to the laws passed by the legislature and receipt and expenditure of state moneys by prohibiting the state from creating a corporation or acting as the incorporator of any corporation that is not expressly authorized by the legislature through the enactment of general laws. It is not a violation for the state to create or to authorize the creation of an independent public body politic and corporate that is created in statute to carry out a public purpose, devoid of any private party with a right of control or management, or which lacks any potential for private parties to change the fundamental structure or public purpose of the entity as provided in the statute that created it.
COMMISSION ON AGING- Relates to the appropriation to the Commission on Aging for fiscal year 2025.
This appropriation to the Commission on Aging provides enhancements to the FY 2025 maintenance budget that includes additional personnel costs and 1.00 FTP for a financial specialist, additional trustee and benefit payments for senior meal funding, additional funding to support state aging programs, and the additional 2% CEC.
22 – 13
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the burden of proof in assessments and to provide for the proration of the homestead exemption based on the change in status of a property.
This legislation relating to property taxes makes two changes. First, it provides that if a property taxpayer appealing their assessed value provides evidence that the assessment is not an accurate representation of fair market value, it has the effect of shifting the burden of proof back to the assessor. Second, it clarifies Idaho Code, which removed the April 15th homeowner’s exemption deadline for existing homes (properties going from a rental to a primary residence). It does this by directing that all 44 counties and the State Tax Commission implement the homeowner’s exemption in a uniform manner across Idaho by including the new formula of levy rates multiplied by the value of the home (either with or without the up to $125,000 homeowner’s exemption), multiplied by the days of ownership, divided by 365 or 366 days.
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Broadband Dig Once and Right-of-Way act.
This legislation updates the Dig Once Policy and encourages the installation of broadband across Idaho. Essentially, the Dig Once Policy states that when the Idaho Department of Transportation does a highway project, it shall consider whether it would be appropriate to include the installation of broadband infrastructure during the construction. This legislation narrows the definitions to a wired broadband infrastructure for the purpose of the Dig Once Policy. It also gives more participation to counties, cities and towns over broadband infrastructure in their jurisdictions, which will help fulfill the requirements of the Local Land Use Planning Act of 1975 found in chapter 65 of title 67 of Idaho Code.
Amends existing law to provide a penalty for possession of marijuana in an amount less than three ounces.
This legislation amends Idaho Code section 37-2732 regarding controlled substances. A mandatory minimum fine is added for first time convictions of marijuana possession of three (3) ounces, or less, of net weight.
States findings of the Legislature and opposes the removal or breaching of the dams on the Columbia-Snake River system and its tributaries.
ThisJointMemorialstatesthattheIdahoLegislaturerecognizesandsupportstheinternationalcompetitiveness, multimodal transportation, and economic development benefits provided by the Port of Lewiston and the Columbia-Snake River System. Idaho has sovereignty of its water resources and benefits from the multiuse system that provides transportation of commodities, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, hydropower, and irrigation. This Memorial also states that Idaho opposes the removal or breaching of the dams on the Columbia-Snake River System and its tributaries.
Julie VanOrden · SD-030
29 – 5
Adds to existing law to preempt laws regarding guaranteed income programs that are not expressly authorized by state statute.
The bill aims to prohibit local governments in Idaho from establishing or enforcing any laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances that provides payments to individuals under guaranteed income programs. These programs are defined as those offering regular, unconditional cash payments for any purpose, excluding those requiring work or training from recipients. The legislation declares such local efforts null and void unless explicitly authorized by state statue.
59 – 11
Amends and repeals existing law to revise and remove provisions regarding the Idaho Rural Development Partnership.
Thisbillre-authorizesTitle67,Chapter90,IdahoCode,short-titled“TheIdahoRuralDevelopmentPartnership Act,” within technical and conforming amendments. These amendments (1) clarify legislative findings to be up to date and remove outdated federal language (2)clarify that the Idaho Rural Partnership will reside within the Idaho Department of Commerce, or within another executive branch agency as designated by the Governor, and funding from time to time may be appropriated by the Idaho Legislature (3) update the number and type of board members appointed (4) repeal language that specifically calls for the hiring of an executive director, and (5) amend voting privileges for the board of directors.
38 – 32