Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the payment of depredation claims.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all available moneys in the Big Game Depredation Fund are fully and efficiently paid out for valid claims arising from damage caused by big game to private property. This act clarifies claim payment procedures, prioritizes the distribution of available funds to approved claims, and provides mechanisms for proportional payment when claims exceed available balances, ensuring that funds are not unnecessarily left unexpended while landowners and agricultural producers wait for compensation.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.

This bill establishes the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to improve student safety by requiring schools to follow clear, statewide disclosure rules when hiring employees. Schools must obtain information about any past misconduct, pending investigations, or resignations during investigations, and must report required matters to law enforcement. This bill promotes transparency, prevents the concealment of misconduct, and ensures accurate reporting to the Idaho Professional Standards Commission.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act.

This legislation establishes the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act to protect school employees and personnel who report sexual misconduct related to student safety. Fear of retaliation often discourages reporting, allowing misconduct to continue unchecked. This bill prohibits educational entities from retaliating against individuals who report in good faith, participate in investigations, or refuse to conceal misconduct.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding notice of lapse or termination of individual life insurance.

RS33692 / H0881 This legislation amends Section 41-1830, Idaho Code, relating to notice of lapse or termination of individual life insurance policies. The bill increases the required notice period before a policy may lapse for nonpayment of premium from fourteen (14) days to sixty (60) days and allows policyholders with policies over $100,000 to request that lapse notices be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other delivery methods that provide proof of delivery. The bill also allows insurers to charge the policyholder the actual delivery cost for certified or signature-required notice, not to exceed forty dollars ($40). These changes help ensure policyholders receive clear and verifiable notice before coverage is terminated.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding continuing accountability for district-converted hospitals.

RS33609 / H0852 In 2022, the Idaho Legislature passed Idaho Code Section 39-1359, allowing the conveyance of hospital district property to nonprofit entities. That law resulted in the transformation, rather than a traditional conveyance (i.e. sale), of at least one district hospital into a nonprofit corporation. This bill creates an accountability structure wherein a hospital so conveyed must publish the membership structure, governing board members, and any information which may be material to a transfer of control, among other things.

Amends existing law to extend the Child Tax Credit indefinitely.

RS33273 / S1450 This legislation makes permanent the Idaho child tax credit that was enacted in 2018 and had an original sunset date of January 1, 2026. The Idaho child tax credit is a non-refundable credit of $205 per qualifying child. This legislation removes the sunset date and makes this policy permanent. This pro-family policy helps to offset some of the costs associated with raising children in Idaho.

Amends and repeals existing law regarding the Office of the Administrative Rules Coordinator and administrative rule review.

RS33807 / H0941 Administrative rules, while inferior to the authority of Idaho's constitution and statutes, are considered to have the force of law. Therefore, the executive branch's process of promulgating such rules are considered to be a delegation by the Legislature of its plenary lawmaking powers. This legislation reclaims a portion of this delegation by transferring the Administrative Rules Coordinator position and function from the executive branch's Division of Financial Management to the legislative branch's Legislative Services Office. Because this transfer will bring greater control of the lawmaking power back to the legislative branch, this legislation also deletes, as no longer necessary, the requirement that the Legislature review all existing administrative rules at least once every eight years.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the counting and adjudication of ballots.

RS33857 / S1451 This legislation pertains to self adjudication of a voter's ballot when there is an over vote.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise and establish provisions regarding prompt payment of insurance claims.

This legislation updates Idaho’s Prompt Payment of Claims Act to clarify standards related to the submission and processing of health insurance claims. The bill defines what constitutes a complete claim, establishes clear notice requirements when additional information is reasonably necessary, and reinforces existing statutory timelines once a claim has been properly submitted. The intent of this legislation is to reduce ambiguity in the claims submission process, promote predictability in contractual relationships, and ensure that prompt pay requirements operate as intended.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding costs associated with the annexation of certain property by cities.

It is the intent of the legislature to honor and uphold the rights of private landowners. This means that to the extent possible, the government is not to create a heavy burden on a landowner and their ability to manage their property. This was a central theme when penning the Declaration of Independence. Should it become necessary for a municipality to annex property against the will of the landowner, the municipality will be inhibited from creating more harm to the landowner by also requiring that the landowner must connect to the city’s wastewater and other possible utilities. The landowner will be free to continue to use a septic system, even if it must be replaced. The landowner is not required to pay for curb and cutter.