Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to allow fire protection districts to enter into certain agreements to transfer territory and to allow certain taxing districts to be exempt from certain budget limitations.

This legislation addresses a current problem for Idaho Fire and Library Districts. This problem occurs when these special districts, with elected Board members, decide to agreeably adjust their boundaries with other neighboring districts. This legislation revises the Idaho tax code provisions to address the application of Idaho annexation code to these adjustments. The consolidation of municipal fire departments with fire districts is also addressed with the appropriate additions and subtractions for the increases and decreases for each entity’s tax base.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the form and contents of ballots to be prepared by the Secretary of State.

This legislation amends Idaho Code section 34-903 to revise ballot rotation requirements by applying current candidate name rotation to federal, state, county, and local offices in political entities with more than 25,000 registered voters. It removes the separate voter threshold for other offices and provides a single standard administered by the secretary of state.

Adds to existing law to provide for state sovereignty, jurisdictional presumption, and a limitation on federal power.

This bill would create a new Idaho law declaring a strong presumption that the state government has jurisdiction over matters occurring within Idaho unless the U.S. Constitution clearly and specifically grants authority to the federal government.

Adds to existing law to authorize a sheriff's office to seek reimbursement for costs of recapture.

This legislation adds a new section into Idaho Code 20-629, to authorize a sheriff's office to seek reimbursement for the costs of collecting a prisoner, probationer or parolee from out-of-state. These are individuals who have absconded from the Idaho Department of Correction.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding an administrative subpoena.

Idaho Code 19-3004A allows the attorney general or prosecuting attorney to subpoena electronic service providers to determine the identity of a suspect. The subpoena can only ask for identifying information. It cannot ask for the content of any communications. This Amendment adds one new crime: 18-1507C- Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children. Idaho Code 18-1507C was passed in 2024 and makes it a crime to produce, distribute, receive, possess, or access a visual representation of a child engaging in explicit sexual conduct, including images or video created using artificial intelligence. These subpoenas are a critical tool for law enforcement, including the attorney general's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. ICAC investigators use the subpoenas to identify suspects who are downloading or uploading child sexual abuse material. This amendment will allow investigators to use subpoenas to investigate AI-generated child sexual abuse material the same way they can now use subpoenas to investigate other forms of child sexual abuse material.

States findings of the Legislature and expresses support and commendation for the Idaho National Guard.

RS33784 / HCR036 The Idaho National Guard’s current mission supports A-10 Thunderbolt II. The Department of War is planning to modernize the mission to support F-16 Fighting Falcon. This legislation affirms the Idaho State Legislature’s wholehearted support for the Idaho National Guard’s efforts to modernize its force structure, recognizing the importance of both the proposed transition of the Idaho Air National Guard from the A-10 Thunderbolt II to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Idaho Army National Guard’s transition from an Armor Brigade Combat Team to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding video voyeurism and to revise a penalty for disclosing explicit synthetic media.

The legislation strengthens protections for minors by prohibiting threats to disclose real intimate images and making the disclosure of A.I.-generated explicit images a felony when the victim is a minor. These updates directly address the growing problem of sextortion, where offenders use real or fabricated explicit images to threaten, coerce, or extort minors for money, additional images, or other exploitative demands. By criminalizing both the threat to disclose real images and the distribution of A.I.-generated images involving minors, the bill closes gaps in current law, modernizes protections against technology-facilitated abuse, and provides law enforcement clearer authority to intervene and hold perpetrators accountable.

Adds to existing law to provide for an administrative process for certain land divisions.

This legislation clarifies Idaho subdivision law and creates a new administrative pathway for limited land divisions to facilitate separate ownership or financing of property containing an existing or approved accessory dwelling unit or similar secondary structure. The bill states legislative intent to allow homeowners, builders, and lenders to divide lots for mortgage or financing purposes without triggering a full subdivision platting process.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the scope of a claim and attorney's fees.

This bill updates Idaho's small claims court limit from $5,000.00 dollars to $15,000.00 dollars. It reflects inflation and allows individuals and small businesses to resolve common disputes–like repairs or unpaid bills–without the cost and complexity of attorneys and expensive lawsuits.

Amends existing law to revise a definition regarding who is not considered an employee.

Under current statutes, a PERSI retiree may work up to five months without impacting retirement benefits. The statues include an exception to this "five month" rule for PERSI retirees working in certain fields. As it is related to this amendment, the code allows a PERSI retiree to work up to eight months with an "irrigation district" without impacting benefits. This is important, since the irrigation season is longer than five months. This amendment clarifies that the term "irrigation district," as used in the PERSI code refers to all irrigation and drainage entities, which is consistent with historical application of the provision.

States findings of the Legislature and supports recognizing 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

This resolution recognizes the Governor's 2026 proclamation supporting Idaho rangeland and pastoralists.

States findings of the Senate and declares Idaho's support of its partnership with Taiwan, trade partnerships between the United States and Taiwan, and Taiwan's participation in international organizations.

This resolution reaffirms the unique relationship and strong economic ties between the State of Idaho and Taiwan.

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

RS33520 / H0876 This is the FY 2027 Maintenance Appropriation for the State Board of Education. This bill includes appropriations to the Agricultural Research and Extension Service, College and Universities, Community Colleges, the Office of the State Board of Education, Health Education Programs, Career Technical Education, Idaho Public Television, Special Programs, Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Idaho Public Charter School Commission. The appropriation includes adjustments for benefit costs, contract inflation, statewide cost allocation (SWCAP), and a base reduction of up to 5%.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding late charges and interest on certain taxes due and the apportionment of collected late charges and interest to taxing districts.

This legislation codifies the 2025 Supreme Court decision that proportional appropriation for fees and interest collections on delinquent property tax collections must go to each taxing district.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the School District Facilities Fund.

This bill reduces property taxes by establishing a sustainable mechanism for school districts to fund building maintenance and new construction without relying on new bond elections. It expands the allowable uses of the School District Facilities Fund once existing bonds and levies have been discharged.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding generative artificial intelligence in public education.

This legislation creates a new chapter in Title 33, Idaho Code, to address the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Idaho's public schools. The purpose of this legislation is to help Idaho schools use emerging technologies thoughtfully – preparing students for the future while protecting privacy, preserving local control, and keeping teachers central to the learning process. AI tools are already being used in classrooms, school offices, and educational software. These tools can help personalize learning, support teachers, and better prepare students for future jobs. At the same time, they raise important questions about student privacy, data security, academic honesty, and the role of teachers in the classroom. This bill directs the State Department of Education, with approval from the State Board of Education, to develop a statewide framework for the responsible use of AI in K-12 education. The framework will focus on safety, transparency, accessibility, and human oversight. The framework emphasizes safety, transparency, accessibility, and human oversight. The framework emphasizes safety, transparency, accessibility, and human oversight, and is intended to guide – not replace – local decision-making or mandate specific technologies. This bill also requires local school districts and public charter schools to adopt policies on how AI may be used by students and staff. These policies must follow state and federal privacy laws and protects student data, while allowing flexibility for local needs. In addition, the bill calls for the development of AI literacy guidance, educator professional development recommendations, and parent resources to improve understanding and transparency. Limited rulemaking authority is provided to support implementation. The goal of this legislation is to help Idaho schools use technology wisely – preparing students for the future while protecting privacy, maintaining local control, and keeping teachers at the center of learning.

Amends existing law to provide certain physical presence requirements for state representatives and senators.

This legislation clarifies the requirement that a candidate be physically present in a legislative district to qualify for the Idaho House and Senate. Candidates must be registered electors for one year prior to the general election and physically live in the declared primary residence for at least 120 days in the year prior to the candidate filing date. Exemptions are provided for active military services or a religious mission.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding siting of manufactured homes in residential areas.

This legislation makes two changes for manufactured homes. First, it allows manufactured duplexes to be treated as multifamily homes in zoning ordinances. Second, it allows single section manufactured homes to be placed on lots up to 400 square feet and multisectional manufactured homes to be placed on lots up to 800 square feet.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding reporting requirements and to establish provisions regarding noncompliance.

The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen expectations for agency compliance with existing requirements to report agreements to the State Controller’s Office. It reinforces transparency and accountability by clarifying reporting obligations and ensuring timely, consistent submission of agreement information as required by law.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Solid Waste Facilities Act.

This legislation reduces unnecessary government complexity by consolidating Idaho's solid waste regulatory framework under a single, clearly accountable authority. It removes regulatory responsibility from public health districts and assigns it to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. By clarifying authority and responsibility, the legislation streamlines state regulation, improves accountability, reduces unnecessary red tape, and modernizes Idaho Code while continuing to protect public health and the environment.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding investigations conducted by the Idaho Professional Standards Commission.

This legislation requires the Professional Standards Commission to report any filed complaints that contain behavior that may be criminal to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Relates to the appropriation to the Industrial Commission for fiscal year 2027.

RS33640 / S1385 This appropriation to the Industrial Commission provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes IRIS Maintenance Contract, Annual Seminar/CIWCS, Peace/Detention Officer Disability Fund, and OITS Hardware.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding starter home subdivisions.

With the national median age of first-time home buyers having recently reached 40, the need to reduce barriers of entry in the face of increasing cost of living and artificial scarcity is apparent. This legislation removes red tape discouraging first-time home ownership by enabling small-lot starter home subdivisions on residential land, removing local zoning barriers that prevent compact single-family development. It sets reasonable state standards for lot size, frontage, setbacks, and density, while preserving health, safety, environmental, and infrastructure requirements.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding milk and cream testing methods.

This legislation clarifies the Idaho State Department of Agriculture may test milk and cream for any quality parameter that is used by a buyer and seller to determine pricing. It also clarifies that the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, buyer, and seller have a right to the test sample.