Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide for uniformity in local government antidiscrimination ordinances.

The Uniformity in Local Antidiscrimination Ordinances Act would prevent local governmental entities, such as counties and cities, from enacting ordinances that impose some antidiscrimination requirements beyond what is required by state law. Idaho currently prohibits certain forms of discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. This legislation would preempt burdensome local ordinances and bring these regulations into alignment with state law. Under the legislation, the Attorney General may seek injunctive relief against a local governmental entity that violates the provisions of the law. Businesses, property owners, and residents would also have standing to challenge antidiscrimination ordinances which exceed what state law allows.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal years 2027 and 2026.

RS33774 / S1417 This appropriation to the Department of Parks and Recreation provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes personnel to convert two part-time positions to full-time administrative support positions; 2.00 FTP and funding for positions at a new park near Salmon and related operating expenditures; trail maintenance staff and equipment; a new excavator for trail maintenance; a federal land and water community grant that will be passed through to city grant recipients; staff housing at Lake Cascade State Park; interpretive displays at Billingsley Creek Campground; construction of a roundabout at Farragut State Park; funding to improve and add additional RV campsites statewide; replacement items; and IT hardware replacement. This bill also includes an exemption for FY 2026 from program transfers to allow a technical adjustment to allow for the accurate accounting of grant funds that were awarded in FY 2025, but distributed in FY 2026 via Executive Carry Forward.

Adds to existing law to establish limitations on consumptive use of water for cooling certain data centers.

RS33716 / H0895 Data centers have a great need for cooling in order for their equipment to run efficiently. Depending on the design, this can result in tremendous consumption of water. As a largely high-desert state, Idaho’s water resources are both limited and critical for many uses, including agriculture. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that the cooling function of data centers built in the future is either designed for the non-consumptive use of water, or uses water for such purposes from a municipal, water district, or water and sewer district system. This will help ensure that Idaho’s limited water rights resources will continue to be available for existing uses, such as agriculture and industry.

Adds to existing law to provide for new large loads.

RS33737 / H0911 This legislation establishes a clear framework for how Idaho’s public utilities and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission will evaluate and serve new large electrical loads while protecting existing ratepayers. The bill requires that any new large load meeting the statutory threshold may only receive service under a commission-approved contract, filed before service begins, and supported by a “no harm test” and other information sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the act.

Amends existing law to provide for negligent violations.

This legislation specifies that industrial hemp producers that are growing for fiber or grain may grow under the same regulatory limits as the federal regulations that govern industrial hemp production.

Adds to existing law to establish the Merit-Based Health Care Act.

RS33759 / H0928 The Merit-Based Health Care Act amends Title 56 of Idaho Code to require that Medicaid-funded employment and contracting decisions be based solely on merit, professional qualifications, and clinical competency. It prohibits discriminatory hiring and specified DEI practices—such as race- or sex-based preferences, mandatory bias training, and ideological pledges—while preserving exemptions for federal civil rights compliance, clinical data collection, and accredited medical training. Compliance is made a material condition of Medicaid participation, enforced by the Attorney General through civil penalties, with a limited private right of action for professionals facing retaliation.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the formation of community infrastructure districts.

RS33763 / H0926 Community Infrastructure Districts (CID) were created by the legislature in 2008 to ensure that new development pays for required public infrastructure without shifting those costs to existing taxpayers. The legislation aligns county and city authority by allowing counties to form a CID in unincorporated areas outside a city’s comprehensive plan, ensuring that counties have access to the same infrastructure financing mechanism already available to cities when they serve as the primary land-use authority.

Adds to existing law to authorize the Legislature to employ counsel in addition to the Attorney General in actions against the federal government.

This legislation allows the legislature to retain private counsel (attorneys) for actions against the federal government, when, in the judgment of the pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house, it is in the interests of the state to prosecute such actions.

Amends existing law regarding the use of certain technologies.

RS33806 / H0939 This legislation regulates the use of thermal imaging, night vision, transmitting trail cameras, and drones for hunting. It provides certain exemptions, including for predators and for agricultural purposes.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding agreements by state agencies, to exempt certain records from disclosure, and to establish provisions regarding private insurance coverage and claims for state property.

RS33720 / H0900 This legislation establishes a process for the Department of Administration to follow for private insurance claims or damage involving state property exceeding $100,000, ensuring the state receives the maximum payout.

Adds to existing law to establish certain requirements for employers to verify the lawful status of workers.

This legislation adds to Idaho employment law to prohibit employment of illegal aliens and require employers to e-verify an employee’s legal employment status as a condition of employment.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.

RS33743 / S1412 This legislation creates the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to strengthen transparency and reporting requirements related to misconduct involving students. While Idaho Code §33-1210 governs the transfer of personnel files between school districts, this legislation clarifies reporting obligations and requires disclosure of pending investigations, resignations during investigations, and disciplinary actions involving misconduct when hiring individuals who will work with students. The bill also clarifies that educational entities may not conduct internal investigations in lieu of reporting suspected child abuse as required by Idaho law and requires that resignations, terminations, or administrative leave occurring during investigations of misconduct involving students be referred to the Idaho Professional Standards Commission for review.

States findings of the Legislature and urges the United States House of Representatives and Senate to take immediate federal action to restore clarity, consistency, and stability to intercollegiate athletics.

This Senate Joint Memorial formally urges the United States Congress and Idaho's congressional delegation to enact targeted federal legislation addressing the instability in collegiate athletics governance.This instability arises from recent litigation and changes related to athlete compensation, name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, revenue sharing, and transfers, which threaten the sustainability of college sports programs. The memorial highlights the economic, educational, cultural, and community benefits provided by Boise State University's athletic programs to the State of Idaho, including substantial economic impact, job creation, tourism, academic success for student-athletes, and national visibility, and calls for a uniform national framework that preempts conflicting state laws, defines student-athlete eligibility and employment status, preserves women's and Olympic sports, restores predictability for universities, and promotes fair competition based on merit rather than conference affiliation. The resolution also encourages timely federal action to prevent program cuts, escalating costs, and competitive disparities, thereby safeguarding taxpayer investments and the broader benefits of intercollegiate athletics for future generations.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding compliance with the law.

RS33723 / H0896 Some of Idaho laws governing the actions public officials, public employees, and state and local governmental entities include an enforcement mechanism for ensuring that Idaho laws are followed. Many such laws, however, do not include any specific enforcement mechanism. In the event that public officials’ oath of office, whereby they promise to uphold the laws of the State of Idaho, is insufficient to ensure that Idaho’s laws are followed, this legislation provides a mechanism by which the Idaho Attorney General can go to court and force a public official, public employee, or state or local governmental entity to follow the law.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for suspension of driver's licenses when a person is 60 days or more delinquent in paying the penalty for a moving traffic infraction.

RS33736 / H0927 In 2018, the Idaho Legislature changed the enforcement procedures for unpaid traffic citations and for unpaid misdemeanor/felony traffic related incidents. The practice of suspending driving privileges for unpaid fines was eliminated. The courts were empowered to collect the unpaid fines through civil procedures. Since the implementation of this change, drivers have learned their unsafe driving practices had fewer consequences. Additionally, the amount of unpaid traffic fines increased from approximately $1 million to $24 million ($3 million /year). The Idaho courts estimate there are over 125,000 drivers with unpaid traffic fines. This legislation will empower the courts and the Idaho DMV to suspend driving privileges when traffic related fines are not paid after appropriate notice.

Amends existing law to provide for the sale of hemp products intended for human ingestion or inhalation.

RS33680 / H0879 This legislation clarifies that establishments offering certain hemp products for retail sale are subject to the authorities of the existing Industrial Hemp Research and Development Act (Idaho Code 22-1705).

Amends existing law to require signature gatherers to be qualified electors and to require paid signature gatherers to provide the name of the persons or entities that are paying them on their badge.

This legislation amends Idaho Code 34-1807 to require paid signature gatherers, on certain petitions, to wear a badge with their name and the name of persons or entities that are providing payment to those persons, if any. This legislation increases transparency to the petition process.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding educational staff, teachers, and certificates.

This bill updates and clarifies key definitions in Idaho education law to provide a clear, consistent picture of administrative, instructional, and other staff roles for the purposes of state funding and accountability. This bill creates statutory definitions and aligns them with current practice, credentialing, and the career ladder. It also corrects code references across multiple sections to ensure coherent implementation in funding formulas, evaluations, facilities distributions, and program administration. These clarifications improve transparency, support accurate allocation of state funds, and help districts apply policies uniformly statewide.

Amends and repeals existing law relating to the sale, transfer, or disposition of state administrative facilities.

RS33653 / H0890 This legislation repeals Section 67-5709A, which creates a separate process for the sale of state administrative facilities in the custody or control of the state of Idaho.

Amends existing law regarding lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

RS33646 / H0855 This legislation changes the requirement to purchase lifetime hunting licenses. It requires a person to have lived in the state for 5 years instead of 6 months before purchasing a lifetime license.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Behavioral Health Services Division for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33787 / S1429 This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Divisions of Mental Health Services, Psychiatric Hospitalization, and Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that include a budget-neutral fund adjustment for Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention (enhancement #24), a budget reduction to move appropriation to the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections for clinical staff (enhancement #7), the partial restoration of ongoing program funding that was made onetime in FY 2026 as well as appropriations for Idaho Behavioral Health Plan grant increases (enhancement #9), a partial, onetime restoration of ongoing budget rescissions for Mental Health Services (enhancement #30), a benefit cost fund shift for State Hospital South (enhancement #8), a fund adjustment for State Hospital North and South to account for the way that revenue is received through the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (enhancement #23), replacement items (enhancement #58), a fund adjustment to shift General Fund burden to the State Hospital endowment funds (enhancement #59), and a Governor initiative to shift General Fund burden to the State-Directed Opioid Settlement for the Allumbaugh House. The bill includes transfer limitation exemption language and reporting language.

Amends existing law to revise the definition of “obscene material” and to revise the definition of “lewd matter.”

In 2024 the Idaho Legislature passed, H710- The Children’s and Library Protection Act. The proposed amendment would prohibit public schools and libraries from making available to minors any material containing erotic depictions of nudity, depictions of sexual conduct, or explicit descriptions of sexual conduct. The proposed amendment would maintain the law’s current enforcement scheme entailing civil penalties enforced by private parties, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General. The proposed amendment would maintain the law’s current enforcement scheme entailing civil penalties enforced by private parties, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General.

Amends existing law to provide for the securing of liability insurance coverage for private facilities used as polling places and to limit liability for private facilities used as polling places on election day.

This legislation establishes general liability protection of private facilities designated as polling locations during Idaho elections. Election workers and volunteers are also protected from personal civil liability when working at private facilities designated as polling locations. This civil liability protection also extends to a nonprofit entity that has provided a location for a polling place, while reaffirming that no nonprofit places its tax exemption at risk by doing so.