Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise the penalty for soliciting commercial sexual activity.

This legislation makes soliciting commercial sexual activity a felony for anyone 21 years or older on a first offense. Current law provides for charging a misdemeanor for the first offense, followed by a felony for the second offense.

Amends existing law to revise an exemption regarding motor vehicles.

This legislation further defines the exemption of one motor vehicle in the case of bankruptcy to include vehicles that may not currently be operable, insurable or registered.

Adds to existing law to provide that certain cottage food operations may sell TCS foods.

This legislation removes barriers for entrepreneurs starting a food business. The requirements for a new business to sell any time / temperature controlled foods are burdensome. This legislation allows small sellers (under $5,000) to be able to get a start in selling these types of foods.

Amends existing law to provide that the executive budget document shall not contain certain logos, mottos, or slogans.

This proposed legislation prohibits the inclusion of logos, mottos, or slogans in the executive budget document, except for the state seal and the governor's official logo.

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.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding interviews of alleged child abuse victims.

This legislation amends Idaho Code 16-618 making clear that, unless otherwise demonstrated by good cause, all interviews of alleged child abuse victims shall be audio and/or tape recorded. The current statute only requires such in investigative or risk assessment interviews.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding expenditures made pursuant to certain funds that are not cognizable.

This bill proposes to cap the amount available for approval of non-cognizable adjustments, or federal funds provided to state agencies that were not known during the regular session for appropriations. The creation of this law is to provide a mechanism to the executive branch to spend non-state funds without calling for a special session of the Legislature, under certain circumstances. The Legislature has the authority to appropriate funds once back in session. With the amendment to Article III, Section 8, of the Idaho Constitution, the Legislature can call itself back into session to address additional federal funds with appropriations that were not cognizable during the regular session, among other reasons. This law ensures the authority to pass appropriations rests with the Legislative Department. Article VII, Section VII of the Idaho Constitution provides that no moneys shall be drawn from treasury but in pursuance of appropriations made by law. Section 16, Article VII of the Constitution further provides the Idaho Legislature shall pass all laws to carry out the provisions of Article VII.

Adds to existing law to require public schools to offer daily recess to students in kindergarten through grade 5 and to encourage public schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for students in grades 6 through 8.

RS33724 / H0915 This legislation adds a new section of code to require public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through grade five and encourage schools to provide unstructured activity breaks for students in grades six through eight. This aligns with extensive evidence that recess is not a luxury but a necessary component of healthy child development including boosting learning, behavior, health and happiness. This legislation also provides that recess cannot be withheld from an entire class as a form of discipline.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for attendance at child protection hearings.

This legislation changes who is allowed in the court room during child protection hearings. Currently, the public is excluded from attending. This exclusion includes key figures who have an interest in the wellbeing of the child. A judge would need to find good cause to exclude those listed and make a written record of that finding. Those to be included: the department, parents, guardians, legal custodians, tribal representatives, assigned guardians ad litem, the assigned prosecuting attorney or deputy attorney general, elected state legislators, counsel for each of these entities.

States findings of the Legislature and requests federal action.

RS33594 / HJM018 The purpose of this joint memorial is to urge the United States Congress to prohibit unauthorized geoengineering and atmospheric modification activities conducted over the State of Idaho without state approval, public disclosure, or transparency. This memorial asserts Idaho's responsibility under the Tenth Amendment to protect public health, private property, agriculture, and environmental integrity from potential harm caused by intentional atmospheric interventions, including weather modification and solar radiation management. It expresses concern that such activities may occur without sufficient oversight, consent, or evaluation of long-term impacts on human health, livestock, crops, ecosystems, and weather stability. The memorial calls upon Congress to establish clear prohibitions and penalties for unauthorized geoengineering activities, ensure coordination with state and federal enforcement agencies, and respect state sovereignty over activities conducted within and above Idaho's borders.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding budget limitations and exceptions and to revise certain definitions regarding urban renewal financing.

This legislation amends the laws affecting Urban Renewal Districts (URD). In 2025, HB436 allowed Fire Districts to withdraw from of an existing URD if the district does not have any outstanding financial obligations. This legislation clarifies that process.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide when wastewater corporations may be a public utility.

RS33719 / S1397 This legislation will amend Title 61 The Public Utilities Act and authorize the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to regulate privately owned wastewater (sewer) utilities essentially the same as it regulates privately owned water utilities. Privately owned sewer utilities are natural monopolies (operated for profit) of an essential public service. This legislation will ensure privately owned sewer utility services are provided in a safe and reliable manner and set reasonable rates, and non-discriminatory service rules that are “just and reasonable” to ensure the ongoing viability of the public service and protect Idaho consumers from unfair rates, charges, and business practices.

Repeals existing law relating to the Idaho Anti-Camcorder Piracy Act, the Tape Piracy Act, and the Motion Picture Fair Bidding Act.

This legislation repeals Chapter 69, Chapter 76, and Chapter 77 of Title 18, Idaho Code, which address the Idaho Anti-Camcorder Piracy Act, the Tape Piracy Act, and the Motion Picture Fair Bidding Act. These provisions are outdated and no longer necessary for effective enforcement. Repealing these chapters removes obsolete statutes from Idaho Code and improves statutory clarity without impacting public safety.

Amends existing law to provide that cities with 25,000 residents or less may provide for election of councilmen by districts and that cities with greater than 25,000 residents shall provide for the election of councilmen by districts.

This legislation revises Idaho Code 50-707A, requiring that cities with populations greater than 25,000 conduct district wide elections for its city council elections.

Amends existing law to provide for the specific performance of tendering the type or form of specie expressly designated in certain contracts.

This legislation will strengthen the ability of Idaho Courts to enforce a Gold Clause contract for specific performance when such a contract is breached and ends up in the courts. A provision for a Gold Clause contract can be found in the United States Code at 31 U.S.C. 5118. Arkansas and Kentucky have similar provisions for Gold Clauses in their state statutes.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding unbiased artificial intelligence in state government purchasing.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that artificial intelligence systems used by state government operate as neutral, accurate, and reliable tools that serve the public interest. As agencies increasingly rely on large language models to assist with research, analysis, and decision-making, this act establishes standards to prevent the intentional distortion, suppression, or prioritization of information to advance undisclosed ideological agendas, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. The legislation affirms that artificial intelligence may describe or analyze any lawful subject in an informational or academic manner, while requiring transparency, procurement safeguards, and oversight to protect objectivity, public trust, and the integrity of state government operations.

States findings of the Legislature and provides for the addition of Joint Rule 24 to establish limitations on the number of pieces of draft legislation and the number of routing slips that may be requested by each member of the Legislature.

In recent years the volume of legislation brought by lawmakers has ascended to problematic levels. This creates logjams for bill drafters and has placed unreasonable expectations on that critical human resource. This resolution seeks to add a new joint rule 24 that will help temper that volume, provide for quality over quantity, and provide faster turnaround times. This will benefit not just bill drafters but the committee process and legislators alike.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding county fair boards.

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.

Amends existing law to provide for the executive budget document to include certain information pertaining to certain recommendations.

This legislation ensures that when the Governor's recommended budget includes an item that requires a change in policy, that a draft of the suggested policy is submitted along with the names of legislators willing to sponsor such legislation.

Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and the Rural Health Transformation Committee.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program in state statute and to create the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund within the state treasury. This fund will receive federal grant moneys awarded to Idaho through the federal rural heath transformation program and any additional moneys appropriated by the Legislature. This legislation also establishes the Rural Health Transformation Committee, a legislative oversight body responsible for governance, review, and recommendations related to the use of rural health transformation funds. The committee will ensure funds are used solely for federally approved purposes, are distributed through a transparent and accountable process, and align with Idaho's approved rural health transformation plan. The committee will provide legislative oversight, require sustainability planning for funded initiatives, receive regular reports on expenditures and outcomes, and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the use of funds. The act includes public reporting requirements and sunsets the committee once all funds have been expended. An emergency clause is included to allow timely implementation consistent with federal grant timelines.

Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and the Rural Health Transformation Committee.

RS33745 / H0916 This legislation creates a new chapter in Idaho Code, section 56-2501 and 56-2502, which establishes the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund account in the state treasury and establishes the Rural Health Transformation Committee. The legislative joint committee will serve to steward and provide oversight of the funds awarded to Idaho from the federal rural health transformation program grant.