Idaho Bills

Amends and repeals existing law to provide for the de-licensure of makeover and glamour photography businesses.

This legislation is to delicense glamour photography.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the minimum requirements for an audit.

Periodic growth in budget numbers due to inflationary pressures and economic activity naturally require adjustments in nominal statutory thresholds such as, in this case, audit requirements. This legislation adjusts those nominal values to be more reflective of the original real dollar threshold amounts.

Adds to existing law to provide assistance to individuals litigating against the federal government.

It outlines the process for Idaho citizens involved in legal proceedings with the federal government concerning grazing and /or water rights to request state assistance from the Constitutional defense fund. This bill specifies the criteria and procedures for the Constitutional Defense Council to consider such requests and provides details on the type of assistance offered.

Adds to existing law to provide for consumer privacy in mortgage applications.

This bill seeks to amend Chapter 31, Title 26 of the Idaho Code by adding a new section, 26-31-211A, aimed at enhancing consumer privacy in mortgage applications. It defines the term "mortgage trigger lead" and outlines prohibited practices regarding the solicitation of consumers based on these leads. Currently, such leads result in consumers being contacted by mortgage creditors, often causing confusion as they are unable to distinguish whether the call is from their actual mortgage lender or another company attempting to solicit their business.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Public School Support Program's Student Support Division provides enhancements to the FY 2026 program maintenance budget with the addition of federal grant funding for eligible school programs, two fund adjustments that reduce money from the General Fund and increase the appropriation for dedicated funds, and for population forecast adjustments to account for 200 fewer support units and for pupil transportation program costs for fiscal year 2026. Thisbillalsoincludesaonetimesupplementalappropriationtoprovideschoolstheirfundingforeligiblefederal school programs including special education and Title I-A for low income children. Payments to schools were held at the end of FY 2024 and paid for using the FY 2025 appropriation because the FY 2024 appropriation was capped at an amount below allowable costs. This supplemental corrects this imbalance for the current year, and there is a FY 2026 addition to adjust the appropriation moving forward. This bill does not include funding for a weighted student funding formula, additional discretionary funds, funding to support a revised student transportation formula, or for a special needs fund.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding media source confidentiality.

This bill amends chapter 7, title 9 of Idaho code by adding a new section 9-714 to create a shield law to help protect media source confidentiality when engaging in newsgathering activities, except in cases of national security or imminent physical harm.

Repeals and adds to existing law to revise a provision regarding conveyances or encumbrances of homesteads by married couples.

This legislation amends I.C. Sec. 55-1007 to allow a married person to sell or encumber property they own individually as their sole and separate property without requiring their spouse to consent to the sale or encumbrance. The current version of I.C. Sec. 55-1007 states that the homestead of a married person cannot be conveyed or encumbered unless the instrument of conveyance or encumbrance is executed by both spouses. The statute, as currently written, requires that both spouses sign regardless of whether the property is the homestead of only one spouse and regardless of whether the property is owned solely by one spouse. The current statute is at odds with the definition of homestead contained in I.C. Sec. 55-1001(2) which states that “homestead” is the house in which the owner resides. Pursuant to the definition of homestead, a person cannot claim a homestead interest in a property they do not own. If a non-owner spouse cannot claim a homestead interest in a home, since they are not the owner, it should not be necessary for them to execute a deed or encumbrance for that property to be sold or encumbered. The purpose of this amendment is to align the requirements in I.C. 55-1007 with Idaho’s homestead and community property laws as well as to align it with the expectations of the citizens of Idaho.

Amends existing law to define a public employer and a public corporation with respect to certain requirements regarding security for compensation.

This bill includes amendments to Section 72-301 and Section 72-928 of the Idaho Code, relating to worker's compensation in the state of Idaho. This allows single-purpose district organized or that may be organized as a local public body in accordance with the laws of the state of Idaho for the purpose of constructing or furnishing any municipal service the ability to go to an open market for workers compensation it also providing a 5 year sunset for review.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the catastrophic search subaccount in the Search and Rescue Fund.

This legislation amends Idaho Code section 67-2913, to revise provisions regarding moneys in the catastrophic search subaccount that is within the Search and Rescue fund. These moneys are used for the purpose of providing reimbursement to sheriff offices for searches and rescues.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to update provisions regarding the practice of pharmacy in Idaho.

The Idaho State Board of Pharmacy went through zero-based regulation throughout 2024 and presented their pending rules to the Legislature early in the 2025 session. The Legislature approved these rules with one section rejected in both chambers. This bill takes the remaining rules approved by the Legislature and integrates them into the statute. While modest changes are made to integrate the rules into statute, including leveraging the Legislature’s drafting guide, moving these rules to statute does not expand or contract existing practice authority, and this bill is intending to take approved and final rules and return oversight of policy changes to the Legislature moving forward.

Amends existing law to provide for vehicles to exceed the speed limit while passing in a passing lane.

This legislation amends Section 49-654 to provide for vehicles to exceed the speed limit while passing in a passing lane. Current law states you can exceed the speed limit on a two lane road, but excludes passing lanes. This adds passing lanes on the same section of highway.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the consolidation of fire protection districts.

Fire District consolidation can provide improved effectiveness and efficiency. Current statutes do not promote it. This bill provides a transparent mechanism for Districts to follow for their consolidation efforts.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education for community colleges for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to Community Colleges provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget. Thisappropriationprovidesanadditional$1,679,800tothemaintenanceappropriationprovidedtoCommunity Colleges found in House Bill 341 that includes additional funding for the enrollment workload adjustment and requires the Office of the State Board of Education to develop an outcomes based funding model for the Community Colleges. Table 1 shows incremental adjustments to the budget found in the bill, of which the ongoing increase is $1,679,800. Table 2 shows the adjustments leading to the FY 2026 Total. The total budget for the Community Colleges is $69,219,700 and provides support to the College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, and North Idaho College.