Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the election of commissioners in certain single countywide highway districts.

This legislation changes the process by which highway district commissioners are elected in a countywide highway district to match the process by which county officials are elected, effective for the 2028 election cycle. Specifically, it would match the process by which county commissioners are elected. Like county commissioners, countywide highway district commissioners will need to reside within the district they represent and will be elected countywide. Also, like county commissioners, they will file for nomination in the even-year May primary, and then the primary winners will run for election in the even-year general election. The process by which county commissioners are elected is well-understood and ensures that countywide commissioners are elected on the broadest possible basis.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33821 / H0951 This bill for the Office of the Attorney General provides an increased appropriation of $980,000 in the Consumer Protection Fund. This appropriation is in addition to the FY 2027 maintenance budget and restores funding on a onetime basis that was previously reduced through the FY 2027 budget rescission. Language included in the bill sets aside existing Idaho Code so that moneys in the Consumer Protection Fund may be used for the furtherance of all the Attorney General's duties and activities under Idaho law, as opposed to only duties and activities that relate to the Consumer Protection Act. This bill also includes an FY 2026 supplemental appropriation of $980,000 in the Consumer Protection Fund, restoring funds on a onetime basis that were previously reduced through the FY 2026 budget rescission.

Adds to existing law to declare certain rats a public health and safety nuisance and to require abatement.

The purpose of this legislation is to address the growing presence of invasive Norway rats and roof rats in Idaho, which pose risks to public health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Idaho has not historically had established populations of these rats, and early, coordinated action is necessary to prevent permanent establishment and increased long-term costs. This legislation declares these rats to be public nuisances and aligns their treatment across existing Idaho laws governing invasive species, agricultural pests, and public health pests. It designates the Idaho Department of Agriculture as the coordinating agency to work with state and local partners using existing authority and resources, without creating new programs or requiring new funding.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Legislative Services Office to provide the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee with a calculated reduction from the Governor's budget document.

RS33663 / H0875 This legislation directs LSO to perform a calculation of historical personnel expenditures compared to original personnel appropriations for each entity with 50 or more FTPs. That ratio may be used by JFAC to reduce the agency’s requested amount for increases in employee compensation, benefits, and health insurance.