Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding public school building plan reviews.

This legislation streamlines the permitting process for school facilities by eliminating the requirement that school districts obtain plan approval before advertising for bids and by requiring permitting authorities to complete an initial plan review within 30 days of submission for all public works projects.

Repeals existing law to remove obsolete provisions relating to reports of medical authorities establishing blindness.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H0014 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of the Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Section 67-5414, Idaho Code, that relates to reports from medical authorities diagnosing blindness. The Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired reports that this process is no longer how the majority of referrals are received and is therefore unnecessary.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding career technical education certificates.

This legislation seeks to improve the recruitment and retention of industry professionals within Career Technical Education (CTE) programs by setting a reasonable threshold of experience required when a professional is seeking a certificate to teach a specific CTE context area. By eliminating the minimum hours of professional experience required, this legislation allows the State Board of Career Technical Education to establish minimum requirements for CTE programs by specific content area, rather than a blanket requirement for all programs. This will further allow the board to engage with industry stakeholders to adjust the requirements to be responsive to industry demand and needs. Finally, because minimum professional experience currently exists in both statute and administrative rules, eliminating those requirements in statue will prevent further confusion as to how the requirements are meant to work together. Moving forward, the board will promulgate rules for requirements by content area, which will then be reviewed and approve by the Legislature.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding visitation and termination of parental rights.

This legislation updates Idaho’s child protection statutes to clarify the application of existing provisions when a child is in the custody of the state. Specifically, the bill clarifies that mandatory in-person visitation is not required when sexual or physical abuse has been substantiated. Additionally, it clarifies existing provisions that allow a court to consider termination of parental rights when the Department of Health and Welfare initiates proceedings.

Amends existing law to provide for a retired member who is appointed to an elective public office.

Under current law, an individual who is receiving an unreduced retirement benefit pursuant to Idaho Code § 59-1346 and who has been retired for more than six months may again become employed as a result of being elected to a public office—other than an office held prior to retirement—while continuing to receive a Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) retirement benefit. During such employment, the individual does not accrue additional service credit, and no employee or employer contributions are made. This legislation expands that provision to include individuals who are appointed to an elected office, allowing them to continue receiving a PERSI retirement benefit under the same conditions, as if they were elected to the office. Individuals appointed to an elected office are required to run for that office at the next general election. As a result, the maximum duration this provision could apply to an appointed individual is approximately two years. If the individual is elected, they may continue to receive the PERSI benefit as allowed under current law. If the individual is not elected or chooses not to run, the provision would no longer apply. It is anticipated that this change would affect one to two individuals per year.

Relates to the appropriation for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for fiscal year 2027.

RS33548 / H0869 This appropriation to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes additional appropriation for client services and partial rescission restoration by shifting appropriation to dedicated funds.

Amends Senate Bill No. 1326 to provide for scope and applicability.

RS33712 / S1391 This legislation is a trailer bill to S1326a.This legislation restores the ability for a publicly employed land surveyor to enter private land for surveying activities. It also restores the requirement to provide a notice of survey to the property owner or occupant.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding hearing notices and to revise a provision regarding procedure at a hearing.

Idaho’s Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the conduct of contested cases before Idaho’s administrative agencies, is largely based upon the 1961 Model State Administrative Procedure Act (“MSAPA”), with selected updates and Idaho-specific modifications since it was initially codified in 1992. Modern practice, and related developments in administrative law, led to a number of updates adopted into law via House Bill 9a from the 2025 Session. This bill furthers that work by adding language regarding notice requirements when an agency issues an order.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding qualified pre-tax contributions and investment earnings and certain qualified Roth contributions and investment earnings.

This legislation amends Idaho Code §59-1308(9) to replace “after-tax contributions” with “Roth contributions and investment earnings” to align with IRS regulations regarding the type of after-tax contributions referred to in this section. It also adds references to IRS code sections 401(a) and 402A to complement existing reference to 401(k). Additionally, it adds “as now in effect and as hereafter amended” to maintain reference to IRS code if future amendments to IRS code occur.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the State Public Defender for fiscal year 2027.

RS33732 / S1406 This appropriation to the Office of the State Public Defender provides enhancements to the FY 2027 budget that includes 6.00 FTP from the Public Defense Fund to hire additional trial attorneys to be assigned in Ada, Bannock, Bonneville, Jerome, Kootenai, and Twin Falls counties. Also included are onetime funds to provide for the migration of county data for 11 state offices; ongoing funds to provide secure hosted storage; and onetime funds for capital outlay to replace two laptops. Finally, this appropriation restores health benefit costs to the agency. Table 1 shows the adjustments to the budget found in the bill.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding prohibitions against restrictive covenants banning accessory dwelling units and to establish provisions regarding accessory dwelling units in the Local Land Use Planning Act.

This legislation ensures that homeowners may construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and prevents cities from banning or unreasonably restricting them. It amends Idaho's Local Land Use Planning Act by treating ADUs as a residential use allowed by-right if certain conditions are met, with clear, objective standards for approval.

Amends existing law to provide for a certain manner of proving identity.

The legislation promotes consistent identity validation requirements. This legislation combines multiple DMV identity requirements (for driver's licenses, registration, and titling) into one statute. As DMV records have become more uniform across vehicle and driver's services and more physical county offices begin offering both services, identity validation requirements should be uniform to simplify application processes.

Repeals existing law to remove obsolete language relating to the Capital Crimes Defense Fund.

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 Section 19-5908, Idaho Code, the Capital Crimes Defense Fund (CCDF). The CCDF shared costs to afford public defense costs associated with death-penalty cases. Since October 1, 2024, these costs are now covered by the Office of the State Public Defender.

Amends existing law to revise a date and to remove a sunset provision regarding the reemployment of certain retired members.

This legislation permanently removes the sunset provision in Idaho Code §59-1356(5) that restricts retired employees from returning to work. By eliminating this expiration, we can continue to employ PERSI retirees without any negative effect upon the PERSI system, can continue to rely on experienced employees to address ongoing shortages, especially in high-need areas, without increasing retirement system costs.

Relates to reducing the appropriation for fiscal year 2026.

This is the 2026 Idaho Rescissions Act that applies to various state agencies and institutions and reduces their FY 2026 appropriations. Section 1 reduces state appropriations for unallocated CEC funding as required by Senate Bill 1110 of 2025, and reducing the General Fund appropriations by approximately 4% for most agencies. The budgets for Public School Support, the Division of Medicaid within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Correction, and the Idaho State Police were reduced by 3%. Section 2 reduces a total of 110.05 positions. Section 3 transfers $22,366,500 from the Public School Income Fund to the General Fund.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove obsolete and outdated provisions relating to the Division of Veterans Services.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H 14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. The bill removed references to the Department of Health and Welfare as it pertains to a veteran's trust held by the State. Veteran's assets held in trust by the State were moved in 2000 to the Division of Veterans Services in § 65-201, Idaho Code. This bill also repeals § 65-210, Idaho Code, which deals with the construction of the North Idaho Veterans Home (Post Falls), which welcomed its first resident February 27, 2023.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove obsolete language.

To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H 14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals or updates 14 sections of Idaho Code in Title 59 and Title 33 relating to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERSI). These sections have become outdated or duplicative with other (newer) provisions now providing guidance on retirement matters, especially with cities.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Parent-Student On-Road Driver's Training Program.

Currently parents in Idaho can only teach their children to drive and obtain a driver's license in rural school districts or in urban districts that do not offer a driver's training course. This legislation simply allows parents statewide to teach their children to drive.

States findings of the Legislature and honors the lifetime achievements of Linden Bateman, the author, sponsor, and successful advocate for the law designating “Idaho Day.”

This concurrent resolution honors the lifetime achievements of Linden B. Bateman (July 11, 1940 – January 22, 2026). Linden was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives for six terms from 1976-1986 and three terms from 2010-2016. He wrote and sponsored legislation to establish March 4th as “Idaho Day.”

Amends and adds to existing law to provide certain provisions regarding cash rounding.

This legislation amends Chapter 36, Title 63 to provide cash rounding guidance for goods and services when purchasers pay in cash and there are no pennies available for change. The U.S. Treasury stopped minting the penny (coin) on November 12, 2025, and supply of the penny is diminishing. Non cash payments, such as electronic payment by credit and debit cards will not be affected. Taxes shall be computed on the total price before rounding occurs. This guidance for cash rounding is optional, but represents industry best practices.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Career Technical Education for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

RS33708 / H0907 This appropriation to the Division of Career Technical Education provides an enhancement to the FY 2027 maintenance budget for the Secondary and General Programs to partially restore the 2% rescission. It also provides a supplemental appropriation of $957,600 in FY 2026 for the Secondary and General Programs from the Career Ready Students Fund to restore the 1% rescission.

Relates to the appropriation to the Commission on Aging for fiscal year 2027.

RS33770 / H0933 This is the enhancement appropriation to the Commission on Aging. This increase provides a partial restoration of the ongoing Base reduction, restoring $129,900 onetime for FY 2027 for senior nutrition.

States findings of the Legislature and approves all temporary and pending rules submitted to the Legislature for review during the 2026 legislative session, with exceptions.

RS33839 / SCR128 This resolution includes the findings of the Second Regular Session of the 68th Legislature and approves all temporary and pending rules submitted for review, with exceptions. Pending rules approved by this concurrent resolution shall become effective on July 1, 2026, except as otherwise provided in this concurrent resolution.

States findings of the Legislature and calls on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment affirming the authority of states to govern their election processes.

This Joint Memorial is a petition to Idaho's Congressional delegation to take the lead in passing laws or an amendment that affirms the Tenth Amendment and Idaho's own Federalist spirit by giving states the authority to chart their own electoral course and adhere to the principles of state sovereignty and the principles of Federalism that are the foundation upon which our nation is built. The people of Idaho deserve an electoral system that is transparent, secure, fair, and free from outside influence. Giving states the authority to develop their own laws governing campaign finance, electoral transparency, and accountability are paramount to restoring public trust, confidence and fairness in our electoral and campaign finance systems.

States findings of the Legislature and supports Integra Resources mining operations in Idaho.

This Memorial recognizes the importance of the mining industry in the state of Idaho. Integra Resources is going through the lengthy permitting process to reopen the DeLamar Mine in Owyhee County. Integra has taken a collaborative approach with the community and various stakeholders over the multiple years they have been involved in this process. This Memorial expresses support for Integra's permitting application and encourages the federal government to act on the application in a timely and cost effective manner.