Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to require all contributions and loans to a candidate or political committee to be deposited into a separate campaign account, to prohibit commingling of funds, and to require loans from a candidate to such candidate's campaign to be reported to the Secretary of State.

This Legislation amends Idaho Code Section 67-6604, relating to Campaign Finance. This bill does two things. It will: • Require all political candidates to open a separate bank account for the purpose of collecting contributions and paying expenses, of one’s campaign; and • Require a candidate who loans personal funds to his own campaign, to certify to the Idaho Secretary of State, within seven (7) days of making said loan to the candidate’s campaign, that the funds loaned were deposited into the campaign bank account.

Adds to existing law to prohibit a person from entering a restroom or changing room of the opposite sex, to provide a penalty, and to provide exceptions.

This bill adds Section 18-4117 to Title 18, Idaho Code, making it a misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and willfully enters a rest room, changing room, locker room, or shower room in a government-owned building or place of public accommodation designated for the opposite biological sex. A second or subsequent conviction within five years is a felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. Defined as a facility where undress occurs in the presence of others, the prohibition includes exceptions for custodial/maintenance, medical/law enforcement assistance, emergencies, single-user facilities (when no same-sex option exists), temporary re-designations, athletic coaching, and accompaniment of family, guardians, or designees in need (provided the designee is not of the designated sex).

Amends existing law to revise a sales tax exemption for data center equipment and to revise a property tax exemption for certain capital investments.

This legislation amends the sales tax exemption for data centers in four key ways: 1) adds two additional criteria for qualification for the exemption related to energy and water consumption, 2) narrows the original sales tax exemption to only be applicable to the internal servers, 3) prohibits data centers that opt-in to the sales tax exemption from also claiming the property tax exemption in 63-4502, and 4) adds a sunset date of July 1, 2036 to this sales tax exemption in order to allow for an analysis of the effects of the exemption and data centers on Idaho’s economy, energy resources, and water resources.

Amends and adds to existing law to exempt portable solar generators from public utilities.

Plug In Solar has been used in Europe for several years, and is beginning to be used in the United States. This product consists of several mobile solar panels with devices that allow them to be used with residential or small business electrical systems. The units appear to range in price from less than $1000 up to $6000. This legislation makes changes to Idaho utility law to require basic safety features including a UL certification, an exemption so that the products can be used without an agreement or permission of the service provider (utility), and liability protection for the service provider (utility). The legislation is the same as Utah House H 340 that was passed unanimously in 2025 by the Utah Legislature. Utah was the first to act and legislation is now pending in 22 states.

Amends existing law to provide for certified interior designers to be able to sign and seal certain technical submissions and to make such submissions to state or local governmental entities.

This legislation exempts the practice of interior design from the Idaho Architecture Practice Act to allow certified interior designers to sign and seal technical submissions for a limited set of drawings that are nonstructural and non-seismic interior construction and alteration projects. Additionally, this legislation establishes a voluntary certification for interior designers to be administered by the Idaho Board of Architects and Landscape Architects in order for interior designers to obtain sign and seal privileges. The certification is voluntary and will not require certification for interior designers who choose not to obtain it. Interior designers are trained, tested through education, experience, and examination to create safe, functional, accessible, and code-compliant spaces. This legislation establishes a pathway for interior designers to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding transparency requirements for certain insurers.

This bill enhances transparency in homeowners’ insurance rate-setting and underwriting by requiring insurers to disclose wildfire risk models, scores, and justifications, and to make mitigation-related premium discounts publicly accessible. In response to rising premiums across the West attributed to wildfire risk, this legislation empowers consumers and communities with clear information about how risk is assessed and how specific property- and community-level mitigation actions can reduce both risk and cost. The bill also directs the Department of Insurance to collect Idaho-specific data and publish anonymized, aggregated insights to inform policymakers and the public, while protecting proprietary information. This bill promotes fair pricing, incentivizes mitigation, and strengthens market accountability.

Amends existing law to provide for the filing of a complaint by a person aggrieved and to revise provisions regarding denial of a request for disclosure.

This legislation provides a remedy for public records disputes as an alternative to a lawsuit, allowing an aggrieved requestor to file a complaint in the magistrate court if they believe a record is denied, over-redacted, or over-charged. The complaint requires a $100 filing fee, to be distributed to the county district court fund. The complaint process does not require attorneys and does not allow for discovery. Agencies may respond, and a judge issues an order within 10 working days, after which either party may appeal.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to exempt the sale of certain food items from sales tax, to repeal the grocery tax credit, and to increase sales tax distribution to local governments.

This legislation repeals the sales tax on food sold for human consumption, using the definition of food products provided under the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), excluding prepared food. To offset the reduction in sales tax revenue sharing amount to local units of government, the bill increases the revenue sharing percentage to those government units by the amount to keep them whole. The bill removes the tax credit associated to food purchases of $155 for individual taxpayers ($250 for itemizing).

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Travel Insurance Act.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the sale and marketing of travel insurance in Idaho by adding Chapter 45, Title 41 of the Idaho code and amending Chapter 10, Title 41 of the Idaho code. Specifically, the legislation establishes uniform definitions of key terms and standards and allows travel protection products to continue to be offered in a manner that provides a seamless consumer experience and cost-saving efficiencies. It also clarifies permissible and prohibited sales practices and the applicability of Idaho’s unfair trade practices laws and requires important consumer disclosures. The legislation further provides that travel insurance may be sold via individual, group or blanket policies and codifies current practice with respect to premium taxes. Finally, it clarifies that travel insurance is generally classified and filed as an inland marine line of insurance. This legislation will ensure clarity and consistency is provided in the way travel insurance products are regulated.

Amends and adds to existing law to prohibit certain restrictive covenants against manufactured homes and to revise provisions regarding siting of manufactured homes in residential areas.

This legislation makes three changes for manufactured homes. First, it allows manufactured duplexes to be treated as multifamily homes in zoning ordinances. Second, it allows single section manufactured homes to be placed on lots up to 400 square feet and multisectional manufactured homes to be placed on lots up to 800 square feet. Finally, the legislation prohibits covenants from unreasonably restricting manufactured homes.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding public charter school admissions.

This legislation would adjust the priority of student selection in Public Charter Schools where initial capacity is insufficient to enroll all the children. A priority system is provided for selection that will now include children of families with at least one of the parents on active duty or active guard or reserve as the third prior The preferences will be the following order: First, children of founders. Second, siblings of students already selected including children in foster care. Third, children of families with at least one of the parents on active duty or active guard or reserve.

Amends existing law to revise the definition of broadband.

This legislation supports a 2025 addition to Chapter 65, Title 67, Idaho Code via House Bill 180 that established expedited local permitting timelines to address delays in broadband expansion. This legislation refines and expands the statutory definition of “broadband” to encompass additional critical communications facilities, including private enterprise fiber networks, backhaul, and other wireline and wireless infrastructure, ensuring consistent application of streamlined permitting requirements. This legislation provides greater clarity and uniformity, supporting timely infrastructure deployment, economic development, enhanced public safety, and reliable connectivity across the state.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise a provision regarding defense of self or others, to provide for operators of a motor vehicle, and to establish provisions regarding public assemblies on roads.

This legislation amends 19-202A Defense of Self, Others and Certain Places. This section of code provides some protection from legal jeopardy for individuals who defend themselves and others when there is a reasonable belief that they are in imminent danger. This amendment extends legal protection for motor vehicle operators including the use of the vehicle as a means of defense and escape. This legislation also adds a new section of code to instruct public entities with the ability to close a public street or highway to provide for a mechanism that allows individuals to obtain a permit to close public streets and highways.

Amends existing law to revise the definition of "neglected."

This legislation updates the definition of “neglect” as it pertains to a child. We are choosing to adopt language that more closely resembles the Federal definition of Neglect. The Federal definition requires harm to have occurred. Idaho’s current definition is incredibly vague. Parents and guardians have found themselves being accused of neglect for things as simple as not feeding their child on time or failing to have earlier bedtimes. It is the intent of this legislature to use the word “neglect” when there has been actual neglectful action or inaction by the parent or guardian.

Adds to existing law to direct the Department of Health and Welfare to conduct a study of options regarding certain Medicaid programs.

The Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities (MWD) program (Idaho Code §56-209n) is health insurance for people who work and have a disability. This program is intended to help people with disabilities work, earning more money and keeping health insurance, to support independent living. Many people with disabilities would like to continue to work beyond the age of 65 and maintain these benefits and supports. After age 65, many people who want to continue to work are kicked off the program and then must face higher costs shares that sometimes quadruple. In order to keep people living independently in their homes, and avoid the high costs of institutionalization, this legislation directs the Department of Health and Welfare to identify and evaluate options, no later than December 1, 2026, within existing federal Medicaid authority that prioritizes the continuity for individuals enrolled in or transitioning from the Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities program.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the concealing, harboring, and shielding of aliens.

This bill makes it illegal in Idaho for anyone to knowingly help, hide, or transport individuals who are in the U.S. illegally. It also prohibits encouraging or assisting them to live in the state and providing them with housing, financial support, or legal help if their presence in the U.S. violates federal law. If someone breaks this law, they can face a misdemeanor or a felony depending on how many individuals are involved. Repeat offenders and those aiding multiple individuals can lose business licenses, face large fines, and even have their vehicles seized. Exceptions exist for law enforcement, emergency responders, and first responders acting in their official capacity.

States findings of the Legislature and encourages the Citizens' Committee on Legislative Compensation to reduce the compensation and expense allowances for legislators serving in the Sixty-ninth Idaho Legislature.

RS33674 / SCR125 This concurrent resolution encourages the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation to consider reducing the compensation and expense allowances for members of the Idaho Legislature for the 2027 and 2028 legislative years. The state is facing declining revenue projections and is preparing for the estimated cost of conforming to upcoming federal tax changes. In response, the Governor has recommended a three percent reduction to state agency budgets for fiscal year 2027, and the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has added an additional two percent reduction, bringing the total reduction to five percent across most state agencies. These budget reductions, along with the decision to provide no salary increases for state employees, place real financial pressures on Idaho’s citizens and public workforce. This resolution expresses the sense of the Legislature that elected officials should also share in those sacrifices. Under Article III, Section 23 of the Idaho Constitution, the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation is responsible for establishing legislative compensation and expense allowances. This resolution respectfully encourages the committee to consider reducing legislative compensation so that members of the Legislature share in the financial burdens currently being placed on the citizens and employees of the state of Idaho.

Adds to existing law to provide for limitations on rental application fees.

The proposed legislation intends to ensure that tenants are only charged rental application fees when they are actually being considered for a rental unit and that renters will follow their stated procedures when charging rental application fees. It allows only two rental applicant households to be charged application fees at a time. Each member of the household needing criminal history or background checks can be charged applicant fees. A rental must be available or expected to be available and the advertisement must disclose any criteria for the rental. Applicants may be charged a fee and placed on a waiting list if they are notified and consent to being placed on the waiting list. To charge a fee, the property owner or manager must also actually run the criminal history or background check that they state they are collecting the fee for. If an applicant is denied, the property owner or manager may then move on to an additional applicant, so long as no more than two applicant households are being processed at a time. This section of code shall not apply to situations where a property owner or manager is not charging or receiving application fees.

Amends existing law to prohibit certain out-of-state persons from making campaign contributions or independent expenditures.

The growth of out of state contributions to Idaho election campaigns has been dramatic in recent years and should concern every Idahoan. During the 2024 election cycle, more money was spent from out of state on negative advertising than from within the state. In light of this, this legislation modifies Section 67-6610D of Idaho Code, which prohibits foreign contributions to elections, and adds out of state contributions and expenditures to the list of prohibited categories.

Adds to existing law to establish the Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.

In 2023, the Idaho legislature passed H 71 banning pediatric gender mutilation. This legislation, the "Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act," seeks to expand upon those protections and reinforce the fundamental right of parents and guardians to oversee the medical and social upbringing of their children. The bill prohibits "covered entities"–including healthcare providers, educational institutions, and childcare providers–from facilitating a minor's medical sex transition or "social transition" without informing and obtaining the informed consent of the child's parent or guardian. Specifically, it prevents these entities from withholding information regarding a child's interest in sex transition procedures and requires schools to notify parents within 72 hours if a student requests to use different names, pronouns, or sex-separated facilities. The act establishes a civil cause of action for aggrieved parents to recover compensatory damages and authorizes the Attorney General to investigate violations, seek writs of mandamus, and levy civil penalties.