Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding distribution of revenue.

In 2023, the Idaho Legislature passed SB 1120 – the liquor license reform bill. SB 1120 prohibits the transfer or sale of any liquor license issued after July 1, 2023. Liquor Licenses issued prior to July 1, 2023, may be sold only one time. As part of its funding, the Idaho State Police – Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) unit, by statute, collects a 10% transfer fee based on the sales price of the license transferred. As intended, the new law ended the practice of financially speculating on a state-issued liquor license. Historically, liquor license transfer fees have been a large percentage of ABC’s dedicated funding. As a result of SB 1120, the 10% transfer fee revenue collected has significantly decreased since passage. The amount ABC has collected since passage of the liquor license reform bill has decreased by 47% leaving a significant shortfall in the agency’s budget. Idaho also applies a beer excise tax. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the tax collected on beer with an alcohol content of 5% or less is dedicated to the Permanent Building Fund, which has no nexus to the beer excise tax. This bill redirects that 33% to the Idaho State Police, with 40% of this amount specifically dedicated to the Alcohol Beverage Control unit.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Department of Education for fiscal year 2027.

RS33705 / H0921 This appropriation to the State Department of Education provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget, including dedicated fund spending authority to the School Bus Camera Fund in relation to the requirements of Section 49-1422, Idaho Code, which provides for the purchase of school bus stop sign arms, cameras, and related equipment using revenue generated from court-ordered infraction payments for illegally overtaking school buses. In addition, the bill includes federal spending authority for a onetime farm-to-school grant program, and an ongoing grant to support costs related to operating the Child Nutrition Program.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for the Division of Public Works for fiscal year 2027.

RS33638 / H0919 This appropriation to the Division of Public Works in the Department of Administration provides the FY 2027 Original Appropriation from the Permanent Building Fund. It provides funding for building maintenance projects, alterations and repairs projects, ADA compliance projects, facilities maintenance for the Capitol Mall and Chinden Campus, and one capital project for design of the Bonneville County Readiness Center.

States findings of the Legislature and supports various water projects within Water District 4.

The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to formally recognize the strategic importance of Idaho Water Resource Board District 4 as the primary "water tower" for the Snake River system. The resolution declares legislative support for critical hydrologic projects. Additionally, the legislation supports the use of Aging Infrastructure Grants for the modernization of diversion structures - specifically within the Progressive Irrigation District and Enterprise Canal Company - and affirms that proactive funding for these initiatives is fiscally responsible and essential for sustaining the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA), fulfilling the 2024 Stipulated Mitigation Plan, and protecting the state's agricultural economy.

Adds to existing law to provide for the protection of working animals.

The purpose of this legislation is to add a new section to Chapter 35, Title 25, Idaho code, to clarify and protect the lawful use of working animals in commerce and service. The bill affirms the right to utilize working animals for mutual benefit and welfare and prohibits state or local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinance, regulations, or rules that are more restrictive than state law or that effectively prohibit the lawful use of working animals or working animal enterprises. This legislation defines "working animal" for purposes of the new section and clarifies that the provisions do not apply to cockfighting or dogfighting, which remain governed by existing law. An emergency clause is included to ensure the provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for College and Universities and the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2027.

RS33709 / H0922 This is the enhancements bill for the college and universities, including a reduction of $752,900 for the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS); an addition of 4.00 FTP and $510,500 for the transfer of risk managers from the Office of the State Board of Education; and a $1,909,700 endowment funds adjustment. .

Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027.

RS33758 / H0925 This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes an $800,700 onetime increase in the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund for anticipated costs associated with magistrate judge retirement benefits. The next three enhancements were considered as part of the Court's General Fund reduction plan for FY 2027, which included shifting costs from the General Fund to dedicated funds. Implementation of the proposed plan includes a onetime increase of $700,000 in the Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Family Court Services Fund, a onetime increase of $400,000 in the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and an ongoing $2,000,000 increase in the Court Technology Fund. The total dedicated fund enhancement for the Court Operations Division is $3,900,700. In addition, this appropriation provides an ongoing increase of $77,900 for the Second District Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program to hire a trainer/recruiter position, as well as provide funding for rent, liability insurance, and an annual financial audit. In the maintenance bill, the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Division base budget was reduced by $144,800. This action restores $87,400 to the GAL Division onetime for FY 2027.

Adds to and repeals existing law to establish provisions regarding place of trial for certain civil actions.

This legislation is a simplification of the outdated statute which identifies the county in which a plaintiff may bring a cause of action, clarifying the outdated language. The restatement is simple with the only addition allowing a plaintiff to file a civil action in the county in which the action occurred. This will alleviate some expense of litigation by reducing travel costs for the plaintiff and potential witnesses, and it will allow local residents to be more involved in cases in their jurisdictions.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Information Technology Services for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33641 / H0870 This appropriation to the Office of Information Technology Services provides enhancements to the FY 2027 budget that includes appropriation and transfer of $458,700 from the General Fund to the Administration and Accounting Services Fund for increases in personnel costs, funding for enterprise security, E-CORE federal grant program, and the transfer of IT personnel from the Department of Health and Welfare as part of OITS Modernization. Additionally, this appropriation provides onetime supplemental funding for the FY 2026 budget that includes appropriation for building furnishings from the General Fund and the E-CORE federal grant program.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Juvenile Corrections for fiscal year 2027.

RS33704 / S1402 This appropriation to the Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC) provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes General Fund Budget Restoration, which restored 6.00 FTP and $593,900 for direct care staff at IDJC facilities, emergency support funding for counties, and substance use disorder mentoring for juveniles; Clinician Service Transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare; replacement items, which included 10 vehicles, recreation area improvements at the Nampa facility, new desks and chairs at the Nampa and Lewiston facilities, headquarter lobby remodel for security purposes, and other facility maintenance at the Lewiston and St. Anthony facility; and OITS Hardware, which included laptops and desktops that have surpassed the 4-year replacement cycle, as well as switches, routers, and other network upgrades that the Office of Information Technology Services has identified as key infrastructural priorities.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the filing of declarations of candidacy.

RS33628 / S1376 This bill would change where local election candidates file, from the clerk of the political subdivision to the county clerk. This change will allow a more efficient process as all filings flow up to the county clerk for approval, as well as many political subdivisions in smaller Idaho counties do not have regular hours of operation during the tight filing window, creating problems for candidates in these districts.

Amends existing law to provide that a certain person from the Idaho Association of Counties shall be a member of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

This legislation amends section 19-5102 to add a member from the Juvenile Justice Administrators' or Adult Misdemeanor Probation Administrators’ association to the Peace Officer’s Standards and Training council.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education for community colleges for fiscal year 2027.

RS33706 / H0906 This is the enhancements bill for the community colleges, including a reduction of $245,500 for the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and an addition of $1,123,200 to restore the 2% additional reduction.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding certain election procedures.

RS33633 / H0873 2025 legislation established uniform dates and deadlines for county clerks ahead of elections. This bill cleans up three additional sections that were inadvertently missed, including (1) soil and water conservation districts, (2) sparsely populated precincts, and (3) canvassing timelines.