Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise declarations of candidacy for independent candidates for president and vice president.

This legislation will align the filing by independent candidates who have qualified for ballot status for the office of President with their Vice-Presidential candidate and with their electors for the Electoral College, as is the requirements for recognized political parties.

Amends existing law to provide that executive employees of the state of Idaho shall not be classified employees.

This bill makes changes to the classification of certain state employees by amending Idaho Code sections 67-5303 and 67-5302. The key aspects of the proposed changes is to executive employees making them nonclassified employees rather than classified employees. Executive employee is defined as a position equivalent to a bureau chief or higher, with management responsibilities, including hiring, firing, and discretionary decision-making.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Lands for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Lands provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget that includes funding for a fire emergency support program manager, and fire aviation section manager, a statewide forest assessment program manager, fire detection cameras, fire equipment, the replacement of the fire burn permit system, statewide security upgrades, GIS enhancements, a boat and trailer, a vehicle for the agency's fleet and facilities manager, assessment fee adjustments for the timber protective associations (TPA), a change in employee compensation adjustment for TPA employees, a net zero salary split adjustment, a net zero transfer to correct a CEC adjustment, dedicated funds for replacement items, funding to replace computer hardware as recommended by the Office of Information Technology Systems, onetime for bonuses for firefighters, and support for satellite fire detection and mapping. This bill also includes a FY 2025 supplemental enhancement that appropriates and transfers $40,000,000 from the General Fund to Fire Suppression Deficiency Warrant Fund for fire-fighting activities. This action is reflected in Table 2. The appropriation does not include an additional 2.00 FTP and $323,000 that was requested by the Department of Lands, including funding for an assistant fire warden in the Ponderosa Area; a net-zero adjustment to support a fiscal financial specialist; a forestry program specialist; and funding for the shared stewardship program. The appropriation also shifted $83,000 from the General Fund to dedicated fund sources. The Governor's Recommendation included an additional $60,000,000 from the General Fund to Fire Suppression Deficiency Warrant Fund for fire-fighting activities as part of the FY 2025 and FY 2026 recommendations that was not included in the appropriation.

Amends existing law to provide for the distribution of certain sales tax revenues to the transportation expansion and congestion mitigation fund and to local units of government for highway projects.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding controlled substances.

Adds to existing law to allow public schools to display only certain flags and banners on school property and to prohibit schools from displaying certain flags and banners.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the prevention and deterrence of unemployment insurance fraud.

This legislation updates the statute applied to claimants who commit unemployment insurance fraud. It (1) defines willful and knowingly making a false statement; (2) creates a distinction between misdemeanor and felony fraud; (3) creates a crime for unemployment insurance identity theft; and (4) provides for a stiffer administrative penalty for repeat offenders of unemployment insurance fraud.

Adds to existing law to prohibit laws that require electric vehicle charging stations or parking spaces in any building plan and to provide for preemption of local laws and ordinances.

Amends existing law to require legislative action for certain changes to public assistance programs.

This legislation, effective July 1, 2025, modifies the eligibility criteria to stipulate any changes cannot be provided in rule, state plan, state plan amendment, agency guidance, or other documents. It also adds an emergency clause.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding Class D driver's training instruction permits and Class D supervised instruction permits.

Last year the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed Legislation to allow parents or guardians to privately teach their children to drive and obtain an Idaho Driver's license. This legislation simply removes language that was confusing and clarifies the process. It also increases the options to fulfill the thirty-hour classroom requirement.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding multiple agenda items on an agenda.

The purpose of this legislation is to provide clarity regarding actions taken on an agenda item that encompasses multiple decision points.