S14452026 Regular Session

Adds to existing law to provide that certain rats are invasive species.

INVASIVE SPECIES -- Adds to existing law to provide that certain rats are invasive species.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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RS33834 / S1445 Rats have multiplied and become an infestation in part of the Treasure Valley. This legislation authorizes local governments to take reasonable actions to control and contain the increasing rat population. The legislation does not mandate that any local government act, it just empowers them to do so. Local government is broadly defined to include cities, counties, and political subdivisions in the State of Idaho. Norway rats, roof rats, and wild rats are defined as an invasive species in order to facilitate control measures. No local government may enter private property in connection with this authority unless the local government has the written permission of the owner.

FISCAL NOTE

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This legislation will not increase or require any expenditure by the General Fund or the State of Idaho. Local governments will incur expense to the extent they choose to engage in rat control and containment activities.

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1445 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO RATS; AMENDING CHAPTER 23, TITLE 67, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION2 OF A NEW SECTION 67-2304, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN RATS ARE AN3 INVASIVE SPECIES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.4

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:5

SECTION 1. That Chapter 23, Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is6 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-7 ignated as Section 67-2304, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:8 67-2304. RATS -- INVASIVE SPECIES. (1) The Norway rat, roof rat, and9 any wild and uncontrolled rat is hereby declared to be an invasive species10 pursuant to the invasive species act of 2008, chapter 19, title 22, Idaho11 Code. All local governments are hereby empowered to take whatever reason-12 able steps, if any, that they deem necessary and appropriate to control and13 remove the rat on public property within their jurisdiction and to control14 and remove the rat on private property after obtaining written permission15 from the legal owner of such property.16 (2) For the purposes of this section, "local government" means any17 county, city, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state of18 Idaho.19

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby20 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its21 passage and approval.22