Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding public charter school admission procedures.

This bill addresses priority in charter school lottery admissions. Children of founders and siblings remain the highest priorities; the bill clarifies that foster children living in the home are considered siblings for purposes of the lottery. Next, it adds that schools may include a preference for children of active-duty military members but allows the school to choose where it fits among the order of remaining lottery priorities.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding disturbing the peace.

This legislation clarifies Idaho Code 18-6409 that disturbing the peace includes persons who maliciously and willfully disturb any assemblage of people gathered for religious worship. Disturbing the Peace is classified as a misdemeanor.

Adds to existing law to establish the Portable Benefit Plan Act.

This legislation seeks to modernize Idaho’s labor market by establishing a framework for Voluntary Portable Benefits. Under current Idaho law, many independent contractors and self-employed individuals—representing a growing segment of the state's workforce—face significant barriers to accessing traditional benefits like health insurance and retirement savings because such offerings are typically tied to traditional employer-employee relationships. This bill provides a "safe harbor" to ensure that voluntary benefit contributions do not trigger worker reclassification, thereby allowing benefits to remain portable and tied to the worker rather than a single employer.

Amends existing law to eliminate proration of the homestead property tax exemption.

RS33557 / H0843 This legislation amends Section 63-602G, Idaho Code, relating to the homeowner’s property tax exemption. The bill removes provisions requiring the exemption to be prorated when the eligibility status of a property changes during the tax year. Under current law, when a property becomes eligible or ineligible for the homestead exemption during the year, the exemption amount may be prorated based on the number of days the property qualified for the exemption. This process has been inconsistently applied and has been difficult to administer in practice. This legislation provides that the full exemption amount shall apply as of January 1 of the tax year in which a complete application is submitted and approved and eliminates the requirement that the exemption be prorated. The bill maintains the existing requirement that applications must be submitted by the last business day of the year to receive the exemption for the current tax year. Applications received after the second Monday in July will continue to be granted as tax cancellations rather than adjustments to the property roll.

States findings of the Legislature and supports domestic production and supply of sugar beets.

The purpose of this legislation is to urge federal action to protect Idaho’s sugar beet industry from unfair foreign trade practices. Idaho is a leading sugar beet producer, supporting rural communities, farm families, and thousands of jobs. This memorial calls on Congress and the federal administration to raise the Tier 2 over-quota duty on imported sugar, which has not been updated since 2000 and no longer provides effective protection against subsidized foreign imports sold below the cost of production. Strengthening this safeguard will help restore fair trade and protect domestic producers and workers.

States findings of the Legislature and requests federal intervention to ensure proper application of FLPMA.

The Idaho Legislature calls on the United States Congress to reaffirm the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) as the primary authority governing federal land management and land exchanges. A recent legal decision originating in Idaho threatens the predictability and stability of FLPMA's long-established framework, which is essential to effective land management in Idaho and throughout the West. This memorial calls on Congress to act expeditiously to reaffirm that FLPMA as the primary authority to manage federal public lands and prevent disruption to existing and future land exchanges.

States findings of the Legislature and urges the United States House of Representatives and Senate to take immediate federal action to restore clarity, consistency, and stability to intercollegiate athletics.

This Senate Joint Memorial formally urges the United States Congress and Idaho's congressional delegation to enact targeted federal legislation addressing the instability in collegiate athletics governance.This instability arises from recent litigation and changes related to athlete compensation, name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, revenue sharing, and transfers, which threaten the sustainability of college sports programs. The memorial highlights the economic, educational, cultural, and community benefits provided by Boise State University's athletic programs to the State of Idaho, including substantial economic impact, job creation, tourism, academic success for student-athletes, and national visibility, and calls for a uniform national framework that preempts conflicting state laws, defines student-athlete eligibility and employment status, preserves women's and Olympic sports, restores predictability for universities, and promotes fair competition based on merit rather than conference affiliation. The resolution also encourages timely federal action to prevent program cuts, escalating costs, and competitive disparities, thereby safeguarding taxpayer investments and the broader benefits of intercollegiate athletics for future generations.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the domestic use of water.

In 2025, the Idaho legislature passed S1083a, enacting several amendments impacting domestic exempt wells in Idaho. This amendment provides the following further amendments and clarifications: 1. Defines the term "subdivision," for purposes of sections 42-111 and 42-227 to mean a development with 5 lots. 2. Clarifies that the limitations contained in section 42-227(4) apply only to subdivisions with final applications filed on or after July 1, 2025. 3. Clarifies that the amendments of section 31-3805 apply only to subdivisions with final applications filed on or after July 1, 2025. 4. Additional amendments to improve readability.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for hazardous waste management.

The purpose of this legislation is to repeal Chapter 58, Title 39, Idaho Code, Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Act, and revise and move certain provisions from Chapter 58 to Chapter 44, Title 39, Idaho Code, Hazardous Waste Management Act. This legislation proposes consolidating statutory provisions related to hazardous waste management into one Idaho Code chapter, which would streamline Idaho Code and allow citizens to navigate this process with ease. Additionally, it retains all necessary regulatory provisions to ensure hazardous waste management facilities are appropriately sited for the protection of human health and the environment.

States findings of the Legislature and supports the consolidation of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

This Concurrent Resolution supports the consolidation of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission with the Idaho Department of Water Resources for the purpose of creating efficiency. The resolution also urges the Governor, the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts Board, the Legislature and the Director of the Department of Water Resources to collaborate to ensure the core missions of the two organizations remain intact.

Amends 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 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 two sections of Idaho Code pertaining to State Controller and LUMA. The bill repeals Section 67-1021C that established the Business Information Infrastructure Fund that was used for the implementation of LUMA. The bill updates Section 67-1021A that established the revenue source for the Business Information Infrastructure Fund, which sunset on June 30, 2023.