Idaho Bills

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.

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 and adds to existing law to provide for new large loads.

Until just a few years ago most investor-owned utilities (IOU’s) were growing at a reasonable rate of around two percent per year. Within the last few years energy demand has spiked across the country. Without strong guardrails on IOU’s, existing customers could see their utility rates spike. In other places around the country where large loads have come onto the systems existing customers pay the price for adding these new loads. This legislation does not affect existing large load customers but will set the standard for new large loads. This legislation will set standards and guidelines for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to follow when contemplating a new large load contract.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding appraisals by competent and disinterested appraisers and to establish a dispute resolution process.

This legislation requires automobile insurance policies issued in Idaho to include an appraisal provision allowing policyholders and insurers to resolve disputes regarding vehicle loss valuations and settlement offers through a standardized appraisal and dispute resolution process. The bill establishes procedures for selecting competent and disinterested appraisers, timelines for completing appraisals, and a mechanism for resolving disagreements through selection of an independent umpire whose determination resolves the dispute. The bill further authorizes the Department of Insurance to adopt rules necessary for implementation and provides that insurer failure to comply constitutes a violation of existing insurance law. The legislation is intended to provide consumers and insurers with a clear and efficient process for resolving claim valuation disputes.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the sale of industrial hemp products.

This legislation creates oversight and inspection of hemp derived products that have already begun to be sold in the state. The legislation requires any current or future retail store that sells hemp derived products in Idaho to obtain a license from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).

Amends existing law to provide for a higher evidentiary standard and to require reliable evidence for reports.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding participation in nonacademic public school activities for dual enrollment.

This bill creates a standard for how local school districts engage with homeschool students who wish to participate in nonacademic activities such as band, football or dance team. Some school districts are permissive and welcoming, and allow area homeschool students to join sports teams, clubs and other opportunities organized by the school. But there are school districts where homeschool students are required to register as part-time students to participate in any activities, and some districts where homeschool students are denied participation altogether without reason. This bill clarifies that all Idaho school districts are required to open their nonacademic activities up to “nonpublic students.” Districts may charge a reasonable fee for participation, but cannot count these students for the purposes of enrollment or Average Daily Attendance.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding prohibitions on excused absences for certain activities in public schools.

The purpose of civic education is to instruct students about the history, structure and function of our civic institutions. This should be done in a way that informs students without political preference or prejudice concerning the diverse viewpoints that have influenced the development of these institutions. The purpose of civic education is not to incite activism but to instruct. The choice to activism is personal and left to the individual to pursue when not receiving instruction. This bill instructs schools receiving public funds for education to count students who are absent from class in order to engage in political protests, walkouts or volunteering for political purposes, as an unexcused absence for the entire day.

Repeals existing law preempting local regulation of auxiliary containers, including plastic bags.

This legislation repeals existing code that preempts local regulation of auxiliary containers such as plastic bags restoring local control.

Amends existing law to provide for automatic voter registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles.

This legislation will provide for the automatic registration of eligible citizens to vote at the same time that they apply for or renew a driver’s license or state issued identification, unless they opt out of being registered to vote at that time. The act of voting – being able to elect our leaders and set our course as a state and a nation – defines the United States at home and abroad. This legislation aims to facilitate the exercise of this basic right for thousands of eligible citizens who are unregistered or have outdated registrations due to relocation.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding certain placement and movement on the career ladder.

Under current law, industry professionals entering the K–12 system to teach in Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are placed on the Career Ladder at a level commensurate with their verified years of industry experience. However, once placed, these educators must receive four years of proficient or higher professional evaluations before advancing to the next rung of the Career Ladder. This legislation provides that eligible CTE educators may advance to the next Career Ladder rung after receiving one qualifying year of a proficient or higher professional evaluation. The legislation also extends this same placement and advancement structure to qualified Pupil Service Staff entering the K–12 system from the private sector. Licensed professionals—including, but not limited to, school psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, audiologists, school counselors, school social workers, speech language pathologists, and school nurses—will have their verified years of relevant professional experience recognized for initial Career Ladder placement and may advance after one year of a proficient or higher professional evaluation. This change ensures appropriate recognition of experienced professionals entering public education while maintaining accountability through Idaho’s professional evaluation standards.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Idaho Child Protection Central Registry.

Repeals existing law to remove outdated or unnecessary provisions.

RS33840 / H0957 To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the DOGE Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals 9 Sections of Idaho Code in Title 42 pertaining to the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Sections include references to groundwater recharge negotiations with the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, the Salmon Falls Creek Water Compact and the Water Conservation and Development Trust Account. The Salmon Falls Creek Water Compact was never adopted. The Water Conservation and Development Trust Account has been inactive since at least 1994.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for the Director of the Department of Insurance to serve as the Director of the Department of Finance on and after July 1, 2027.

RS33630 / H0854 It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for greater efficiencies between the Department of Finance and the Department of Insurance. To this end, the Director of Insurance shall concurrently serve as the director of Finance. The Director shall find and implement cross-departmental efficiencies between the Departments in areas that include but are not limited to administrative services, financial and accounting support, and information technology.

Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding medical kidnapping of children and vulnerable adults.

Amends existing law to provide an exception to wildland firefighter differential pay.

RS33665 / H0878 This legislation clarifies the intent of differential pay (hazard pay) for wildland firefighters. Differential pay is appropriated by the Legislature, on a one-time basis, and serves as a twenty five percent (25%) of hourly rate enhancement for wildland firefighters, who were recruited as temporary employees to serve on the fire lines. This legislation ensures that the differential pay serves the lowest paid temporary positions for wildland firefighters who don’t have year-round pay and don’t receive state benefits. It further clarifies differential pay in this section shall not apply to permanent state employees who receive other compensation, bonuses, and year-round pay, and state benefits.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding county solid waste disposal sites.

RS33681 / H0882 This legislation establishes a framework that strengthens the public sector’s ability to abide by its statutory responsibilities to maintain waste management systems. It allows counties to preserve and protect public investments in solid waste infrastructure. It increases transparency in the public process for controlling the flow of waste. It allows counties to regulate waste streams to reduce the likelihood of waste being sent to non-compliant facilities. It also reduces counties liabilities, avoids creating publicly funded assets that cannot be fully utilized, and allows private operators to continue bidding for waste management contracts or to operate within the framework established by those who bear ultimate responsibility for solid waste management.

Adds to existing law to establish a public school social access pass program.

To create a social pass/program for homeschool students to attend events within a local school district. The intention is to integrate communities and develop cultural bonds. Students will need to adhere to activity standards, district/school conduct, and pay any additional one-time fees that may apply to a given event. Districts may charge up to $25 per social pass to make up administrative costs.