Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding contract requirements for state-supported medical and veterinary students.

This bill requires individuals who utilize state appropriated funds for purposes of attending a veterinary school to return to work in Idaho for a period of four years and devote thirty percent of their annual working time, or six hundred hours, to agriculture animals for those four years.

States findings of the Legislature and recognizes the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations that are overtly hostile to the people and institutions of the State of Idaho.

This resolution will recognize the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American Islamic Relations as terrorist organizations that are overtly hostile to the people and institutions of the State Of Idaho. The objective is for the Legislature to acknowledge the status of these organizations as transnational terrorist organizations when considering future legislation, include regarding purchasing or acquiring land in the State of Idaho.

Amends existing law to provide for parental rights in medical decisions.

RS33615 / H0860 This legislation provides updates to the Medical Parental Rights bill that was passed in 2024. Amongst other things, this legislation makes clear that no individual acting reasonably under the circumstances shall be found in violation by furnishing nonemergency first aid services and care to a minor child appearing or represented to be sick or injured. This legislation addresses waivers and makes clear that signing a blanket consent waiver is optional. This legislation addresses the concerns of the hospitals and treating minors whose parents cannot be found but whose child has sustained serious bodily harm. This legislation clarifies that evidence can be collected that is related to an allegation of a crime against the child. This legislation also addresses the 988 number and clarifies that a 2nd follow up phone call can be made back to the child who first called the 988 Idaho crisis and suicide hotline. This legislation repeals conflicting language, including language the Attorney General’s office had suggested.

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 oppose 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 allow development impact fees to be used for certain costs associated with certain fire apparatus replacement.

This legislation addresses a current problem for Idaho Special Districts. This problem occurs when these special districts, with elected Board members, decide to adopt a development impact fee ordinance. This legislation allows the use of these funds for 50% of fire apparatus replacement costs as long as such replacement is identified in an adopted capital improvement plan.

Amends existing law regarding snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles.

RS33591 / S1378 This legislation revises the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) law enforcement program by adopting a results-oriented approach that funds county OHV enforcement programs based on performance metrics similar to the marine law enforcement program. This legislation also provides for consistency of use of dedicated funds among the Off-Road Motor Vehicle (ORMV) fund and the OHV recreation account. This legislation then provides for reversion of certain dedicated funds that are unused after three (3) years to be returned to the snowmobile or OHV accounts for general operations. Finally, this legislation modernizes the composition of the OHV Advisory Committee to require representation of Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) users.

Amends existing law to provide for the licensure of certain persons who have served as a chaplain in any branch of the United States military.

This legislation will allow military chaplains to work as licensed counselors in the state of Idaho. Chaplains are required by the U.S. Department of War to obtain a Master of Divinity degree with a 72-credit minimum. This equates to 20% more credits than the typical master's in counseling. This degree covers religious and counseling education. In addition to this degree, chaplains attend a 12-13 week (depending on the branch of military) Chaplains Officer Leadership Course where their counseling education continues. A certified military Chaplain's initial certification's required hours exceed that of a potential counselor seeking to work in this field as a civilian.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the filing of declarations of candidacy.

RS33628 / S1376 This bill would change where local election candidates file, from the clerk of the political subdivision to the county clerk. This change will allow a more efficient process as all filings flow up to the county clerk for approval, as well as many political subdivisions in smaller Idaho counties do not have regular hours of operation during the tight filing window, creating problems for candidates in these districts.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding certain election procedures.

RS33633 / H0873 2025 legislation established uniform dates and deadlines for county clerks ahead of elections. This bill cleans up three additional sections that were inadvertently missed, including (1) soil and water conservation districts, (2) sparsely populated precincts, and (3) canvassing timelines.

Amends existing law to provide for supervision requirements while a child is sleeping and to establish an exception regarding children to be counted in attendance at a daycare.

This bill clarifies two issues from HB243 which the legislature passed last session. It provides common sense solutions that allow in-home day-care providers to continue to operate safely. This allows an in-home day-care provider to use a videoing device to monitor a sleeping child. It also clarifies that an in-home day care provider does not need to count their own school age children for the purposes of licensing.

States findings of the Legislature, declares that the existing public school funding formula requires review and modernization, and requests that the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction present draft legislation to the Legislature.

In this resolution, the Legislature declares that the existing funding formula requires review and modernization to reflect current student needs. This effort will be founded on the funding formula work from the past decade. The Legislature requests that the Superintendent of Public Instruction develop proposed funding formula legislation, along with corresponding financial analyses for each district and public charter school, for consideration during the 2027 legislative session. The Superintendent will report progress at the JFAC fall meeting to the budget committee and both education committees. The resolution also outlines the principles for a revised school funding formula, including Idaho’s constitutional duty, accountability, predictability, stability, transparency, and student needs.

States findings of the Legislature and calls on the President of the United States and Congress to assist states in covering the costs of educating students residing in the United States regardless of immigration status.

RS33682 / HJM020 This monument memorializes that due to the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Plyler v. Doe (1982, 457 U.S. 202), Idaho is required to offer free public K-12 education to every student regardless of immigration status. However, it is not clear that the federal government fully reimburses Idaho to compensate for this requirement. Since immigration policy is set by the federal government, this monument calls on the U.S. Congress make Idaho whole for meeting this requirement.

States findings of the Legislature, supports federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, and urges Congress to fully cooperate with these efforts.

RS33683 / HJM019 This memorial expresses the position of the Idaho Legislature in support of President Trump’s desire to eliminate the United States Department of Education and to return primary authority over education policy to the states.

Amends existing law to provide for the expiration of temporary rules.

This legislation makes minor changes to Idaho Code Sections 67-5226 and 67-5291 of the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act. It provides clarity, continuity, and consistency regarding the expiration of certain temporary rules. Specifically, this legislation specifies that when a temporary rule is not approved by a concurrent resolution of the legislature the temporary rule shall expire by its own terms or on June 30 of the year following the temporary rule’s adoption. Currently, such temporary rules expire either by their own terms or upon adjournment sine die of the legislature, which has caused issues because pending rules approved by concurrent resolution do not become final rules and effective until July 1. Thus, current law creates a time gap between when temporary rules expire, and pending rules become final rules. This legislation would eliminate that gap.

States findings of the Legislature and reaffirms Idaho's rights under the Bear River Compact.

RS33678 / HCR034 This resolution asserts Idaho’s water rights under the Amended Bear River Compact, which was signed by Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, and ratified by Congress in 1980. It directs Idaho’s Bear River Commissioners to strictly interpret and enforce the irrigation reserve water elevation statutes for Bear Lake, and urges Idaho to invest in the equipment necessary to measure and quantify Bear River water. It also directs the Idaho Water Resources Board to: 1.) 1.) Prepare two reports relating to current Bear River water development, water supplies, addressing state water needs, and prioritizing future Bear River water projects; 2.) Prioritize and develop feasibility studies for identified Bear River water projects for new surface storage sites, off-stream storage, and aquifer recharge, using Idaho’s Bear River Compact water allocation, and without harming Bear Lake; 3.) Allocate funds from the $30 million transfer to the Water Management Account to support implementation; and 4.) Confer with legislative leadership prior to entering into any agreement with any power utility or the states of Utah or Wyoming on the use or management of the Bear River or Bear Lake.

Amends existing law to provide for shooting of coyotes, wolves, and red foxes from aircraft.

This legislation would amend 22-102A, Idaho Code, which provides for the permitting of the use of aircraft in controlling unprotected or predatory animals. The amendments will account for the movement of current administrative rule language into the statute because it is beneficial to have all related requirements related to this matter in a single location in Idaho Code.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the Project Choice program fee.

RS33676 / S1379 This proposal makes changes to Idaho Code 49-454 - PROJECT CHOICE and IC 67-2914 - Idaho Law Enforcement Fund Established. The Idaho State Police (ISP) has had difficulty recruiting and retaining commissioned peace officers, and one of the cited concerns for our troopers leaving has been pay. Almost 20 years ago, the legislature created the PROJECT CHOICE program fee of $3.00 on vehicle registration in Idaho Code 49-454. These funds are deposited into the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund, as outlined in Idaho Code Section 67-2914. It is proposed that the project choice program fee in IC 49-454 be increased from $3.00 to $8.00, allowing the ISP to fund adjustments to commissioned personnel salaries to remain competitive with law enforcement agencies that offer higher pay and attract/take our troopers. The PROJECT CHOICE FEE was created to assist ISP in recruiting and retaining staff.

States findings of the Legislature and supports curtailment of the pelican population.

RS33647 / SJM115 This joint memorial urges the United State Fish and Wildlife Service to curtail or allow curtailment of the number of pelicans within the State of Idaho. Pelicans were added to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1913. Consequently, there has been remarkable success in their population growth, to the extent of overpopulation. This is negatively affecting Idaho’s abundant wetland refuge eco-system and the health of Idaho’s fish population. In particular, pelicans are detrimental to Idaho’s fish population in the Henry’s Fork River that flows through Harriman State Park, as well as other waterways in the State of Idaho. This increase in our pelican population has adversely affected the success of fishermen throughout the State and the nation.

Amends existing law to provide for Lewis-Clark State University.

This legislation changes Lewis-Clark State College’s name to Lewis-Clark State University throughout Idaho Code. The Idaho State Board of Education approved this legislation to move forward on April 16, 2025, because it will more accurately reflect the full range of degree programs offered (associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees) at the institution. This change will facilitate student recruitment, retention, and two-year to four-year transfer pathways, all of which are critical to supporting Idaho’s workforce needs.

Amends and adds to existing law to include the office of the president of the United States into the state primary election and to move the primary election date to the Tuesday following the first Monday in May.

RS33722 / S1398 The intent of this legislation is to provide consistency, fiscal responsibility, and increase turnout in our primary election process. It seeks to amend several sections of Idaho election code to hold all primary elections, including the presidential primary, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May. This aligns the dates of the primary elections and general elections to the same Tuesday in the month exactly six months apart from one another.

States findings of the Legislature and recognizes all the Idaho athletes who participated in the Olympics.

RS33694 / HCR035 This resolution honors Idaho’s athletes who represented the United States of America in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for the State Historic Preservation Officer.

RS33726 / H0898 This legislation shifts the administrative location of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which is required by federal law, from the Idaho State Historical Society to the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination, within the Office of the Governor. This will provide for better administrative efficiency, policy alignment, and improved coordination of permitting. The position of State Historical Preservation Officer is already appointed by the Governor under current law.

States findings of the Legislature and supports re-opening American Tungsten's IMA mining project.

RS33714 / HJM021 This Memorial states that the Legislature supports the development of American Tungsten’s IMA Mine Project located near Patterson in Lemhi County. It further states for the expedited issuance of state of Idaho permits and other authorizations necessary for bringing the Mine back into operation after many years of disuse. It also urges the United State Department of War to award a grant to the company to complete the development of the Mine. The Mine will produce tungsten, a critical mineral for many applications, including in a variety of applications for use in national defense. The United States currently relies on China and Russia for most of the tungsten needed in national defense. When completed, projected to be by the end of this calendar year, the Mine will be the only producer of tungsten in the United States.

Adds to existing law to establish the Financial Accountability Stablecoin Transaction (FAST) Act to provide for the authorization and use of payment stablecoins.

RS33782 / S1423 This legislation establishes the Financial Accountability Stablecoin Transaction (FAST) Act in Title 67, Idaho Code, to allow the State of Idaho to modernize how it sends payments to vendors and contractors. Under current law, the state relies on traditional banking systems such as Automated Clearing House (ACH), which can take multiple days to settle payments and often carry unnecessary transaction costs. This bill provides an additional, optional payment rail that allows for near-instant settlement using fully reserved, federally regulated payment stablecoins. The bill aligns Idaho law with the federal GENIUS Act framework, ensuring that only qualified stablecoins meeting strict reserve, audit, and consumer protection standards are eligible for use. The Idaho Department of Finance will compile and maintain a list of approved providers based on these federal standards and risk criteria. Participation is entirely voluntary. Vendors and contractors may choose to receive payment through this method, but no one is required to use it. The state is not required to hold or retain digital assets and would only use this system as a transactional payment tool. This legislation is designed to improve payment speed, reduce transaction costs, and increase transparency and auditability in state financial operations. It also ensures Idaho remains aligned with broader financial modernization efforts already underway in both the federal government and the private banking sector.