Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding county fair boards.
COUNTY FAIR BOARDS -- Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding county fair boards.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
▶ Show statement of purpose▼ Hide statement of purpose
This legislation amends Section 22-202A, Idaho Code, which allows county commissioners in counties over a specified population threshold to designate a county fair board as an advisory body rather than as a governing board. This legislation does not impact counties that already relied upon this section. This statutory provision was adopted decades ago to address a specific circumstance at that time. Today, the population-based trigger is arbitrary and no longer reflects sound governance principles. Good governance should not hinge on an outdated population threshold or mechanism that creates structural instability for county fair operations. County fairs remain foundational to Idaho's agricultural heritage, rural communities, and local economies. Repealing this antiquated statute removes an unnecessary and destabilizing tool from code, restores clarity to county fair governance, and ensures fair boards operate under consistent statutory authority across the state. This legislation modernizes Idaho Code by protecting counties that have relied on the state while eliminating an outdated provision that is no longer needed and does not represent best practices in local governance.
BILL TEXT
▶ Show full bill text▼ Hide full bill text
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 823 BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AN ACT 1 RELATING TO COUNTY FAIR BOARDS; AMENDING SECTION 22-202A, IDAHO CODE, TO RE- 2 VISE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF A COUNTY FAIR BOARD AS AN 3 ADVISORY BOARD TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; AND DECLARING AN 4 EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 5 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 6 SECTION 1. That Section 22-202A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 7 amended to read as follows: 8 22-202A. DESIGNATION OF COUNTY FAIR BOARD AS ADVISORY BODY. (1) In 9 counties with a population of two hundred thousand (200,000) persons or 10 more, on or before January 1, 2024, the board of county commissioners may 11 provide by ordinance that the county fair board shall function as an advisory 12 board to the board of county commissioners. If such an ordinance is adopted, 13 the board of county commissioners shall retain and may exercise the powers, 14 duties, and responsibilities otherwise charged to the county fair board 15 by the provisions of this chapter. Any such ordinance shall set forth the 16 powers, duties, responsibilities, compensation, and terms of office of the 17 county fair board and may provide for any such other rules and regulations 18 under which the county fair board shall advise the board of county commis- 19 sioners and conduct its operations. Any such ordinance may be repealed at 20 any time, and if repealed, the provisions of this chapter shall apply as if no 21 such ordinance had been adopted. 22 (2) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to: 23 (a) fair Fair districts in two (2) or more counties organized pursuant 24 to chapter 3, title 22, Idaho Code.; or 25 (b) Counties in which the population reached two hundred thousand 26 (200,000) persons or more after January 1, 2024. 27 SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby 28 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after 29 July 1, 2026. 30 -- 1 of 1 --
LATEST ACTION
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing