Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding rights-of-way.

This legislation provides that there shall be no duty to maintain or construct any highway or right of way on the part of a county or highway district for those highways or right of ways within the county or public right of way system. Absent evidence to the contrary, there shall be a presumption that the highway or right of way is valid. This legislation will also require a more stringent process when highways or right of ways are created to remove doubt as to whether a highway or right of way is valid

Adds to existing law to require the use of AI to review administrative rules annually.

RS33679 / H0917 This legislation establishes the AI Regulatory Review Act, creating a framework for Idaho state agencies to use artificial intelligence to assist in the review of existing regulations and guidance documents as required under Section 67-5292, Idaho Code. The Act requires each agency, as part of its existing periodic review, to use an AI system to analyze whether regulatory mandates are required by law or discretionary, whether mandates conflict with or duplicate other state or federal provisions, how Idaho's requirements compare to those of neighboring states, whether mandates are written in plain language, and the cost and economic impact of proposed modifications. All AI-generated recommendations are subject to mandatory human review and approval by qualified agency personnel. No regulation may be amended or repealed based solely on AI analysis. Agencies must initiate rulemaking under the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act to implement any approved changes, and must annually report outcomes to the appropriate legislative committee.

States findings of the Legislature and provides that all pending rules of the Idaho Transportation Department have been reviewed and approved by the House Transportation Committee with an exception.

This Resolution states that all pending administrative rules of the Idaho Transportation Department have been reviewed by the House Transportation and Defense committee and were approved with the exception of IDAPA 39.02.60, Idaho Transportation Department, Rules Governing License Plate Provisions, Docket No. 39-0260-2501, Section 012, Subsection 03, which was rejected.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

RS33742 / H0918 This bill sets new policy for the operation of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance. It reiterates the IDLA’s core mission of filling instructional “gaps”, offering courses for remediation, courses otherwise unavailable in small or rural school districts, and courses required for graduation and overload courses. It reorganizes the board of directors, provides that administrative costs do not exceed 30% of the total budget, and requires an annual outside audit as well as an LSO audit every three years. It sets fees for courses and caps state funding at $445 per course. It eliminates “custom section” double dipping, Virtual School participation, Driver’s Ed, K-5 participation, but allows dual credit students to use money available from the advanced opportunities program.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding supplemental maintenance and operation levies.

This legislation will revise the rules for supplemental maintenance and operation levies in public school districts. Previously, these levies required voter approval for a specified time not to exceed two (2) years, and this revision provides that voter-approved levies can be for specified time from one (1) year to a maximum of four (4) years. This legislation also provides that the board of trustees is permitted to reduce the levy by majority vote in any of the authorized years of the levy. This legislation is intended to give budgetary consistency for the school districts and reduce levy campaigning time to allow for administration and staff to focus their time on educating children.

Amends existing law to require a person to apply for a driver's license, register vehicles, and obtain a certificate of vehicle title within 30 days of becoming an Idaho resident.

This legislation requires a person to apply for an Idaho driver's license and register vehicles within 30 days of becoming an Idaho resident.

Adds to existing law to require certain disclosures by individuals engaged in paid in-person canvassing activities.

This legislation adds a new section to title 67, chapter 66 Idaho Code, to establish requirements for persons engaged in paid in-person canvassing activities. It requires such persons to meet the qualifications of a qualified elector in Idaho, to disclose that they are being paid and identify the person or entity providing payment, and to wear a visible badge stating, “paid political advocate.” The legislation directs the secretary of state to adopt rules to implement these requirements and provides for enforcement.

Amends existing law to revise qualifications for cosmetology licensure.

This legislation lowers the amount of education hours for a cosmetology license from 1,600 to 1,000. It also lowers the amount of apprenticeship hours for a cosmetology license from 3,200 to 2,000. This lowers the barriers for people seeking to become cosmetologists. It also makes Idaho more competitive with other states.

Amends existing law to allow a political party to add qualifications for precinct committeemen.

This legislation clarifies that political parties may add to the requirements for who can serve as a precinct committeeman in addition to the criteria found in the Idaho Code. Political parties are private associations and as such, they have a first amendment right to choose with whom they may "assemble" with as long as there is no form of discrimination previously determined to be illegal.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the election of commissioners in certain single countywide highway districts.

This legislation changes the process by which highway district commissioners are elected in a countywide highway district to match the process by which county officials are elected, effective for the 2028 election cycle. Specifically, it would match the process by which county commissioners are elected. Like county commissioners, countywide highway district commissioners will need to reside within the district they represent and will be elected countywide. Also, like county commissioners, they will file for nomination in the even-year May primary, and then the primary winners will run for election in the even-year general election. The process by which county commissioners are elected is well-understood and ensures that countywide commissioners are elected on the broadest possible basis. The legislation also allows for a candidate for the 2026 election to declare their party affiliation and to have that information available on the general election ballot.