Idaho Bills

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.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding public charter school earned autonomy.

This bill grants increased autonomy to brick-and-mortar public charter schools that demonstrate strong student outcomes, sound financial practices, and effective operational management. First, participating schools would receive funding based on their prior year’s per-pupil allocation, adjusted for statewide education funding changes and shifts in student numbers. Second, the bill allows participating schools to use their state funds with greater flexibility, empowering them to allocate resources in the ways they determine will best serve their students and school. Third, it reduces burdensome reporting requirements associated with line-item funding for participating schools. Finally, the legislature would receive data on changes in student academic growth and proficiency to evaluate whether increased autonomy is producing positive, negative, or neutral effects.

States findings of the Legislature and provides that all temporary and pending rules of the Idaho State Tax Commission have been reviewed and approved by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

This resolution states that all pending administrative rules of the Idaho State Tax Commission have been reviewed and approved by the Revenue and Taxation committee.

Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Kratom Consumer Protection and Safety Act.

Kratom is a plant-derived agricultural product related to the coffee plant that is legally sold and widely used in the United States, with an estimated 24 million Americans using kratom. Natural kratom leaf contains a naturally occurring alkaloid profile with only trace amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and products containing elevated or concentrated 7-OH are not natural leaf kratom. Similar consumer protection legislation has been enacted in approximately nineteen (19) states. This legislation was requested by stakeholders and Idahoans seeking clear, uniform standards to address unsafe and adulterated products. The purpose of this legislation is to establish limited, Idaho-specific standards focused on product integrity, protecting the public from unsafe and adulterated products, and preserving lawful adult access, while avoiding unnecessary expansion of government by targeting bad actors in the marketplace and providing clear, enforceable standards without licensing programs, fees, or new regulatory bureaucracy.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions.

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 or updates 17 sections of Idaho Code in Title 33 relating to education. Impacted sections include reporting requirements, contracts, special diplomas, profits of mines, asbestos removal of the Albion State Normal School, and county level provisions. Many of these sections were never implemented or funded by the state.

Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to establish provisions for the management of certain lands granted or acquired from the federal government.

Protecting public lands in Idaho from permanent loss is of vital importance to the identity, culture, and livelihoods of Idahoans. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to Section 8, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution, distinguishing between state endowment lands granted for specific institutional purposes and public lands acquired from the federal government. The state Endowment will be unaffected, ensuring that the Endowment continues to generate revenue for its beneficiaries. Federally managed lands that may be endowed in the future will be placed in a separate, inviolable trust to be preserved for future generations, prohibiting the sale of these lands and allowing exchanges when approved by a two-third vote of the Legislature. These lands will be managed to balance and promote resource utilization, public recreation, scenic values, watershed quality, and wildlife habitat. Revenue from these lands will be applied to the Public Lands Trust Fund, dedicated first to operating and maintaining the land, then to compensating counties, enhancing public access, and supporting primary and secondary public education facilities.

Repeals existing law relating to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region.

This proposed legislation will remove Idaho from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region cooperation agreement by repealing Idaho Code Chapter 78 of Title 67.