Idaho Bills

Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding dispensing fees and to establish duties and restrictions pertaining to pharmacy benefit managers and third-party payers.

This legislation amends Section 41-349, Idaho Code, relating to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). The bill establishes a minimum professional dispensing fee of $12.35 per prescription to be paid by PBMs to pharmacies. The legislation also provides a methodology for determining future dispensing fees and directs the Idaho Department of Insurance to oversee implementation. Additionally, the legislation specifies that reimbursement to pharmacies for prescription drugs shall be based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding machine guns and contingent authorization and to establish provisions regarding a prohibition on enforcement of invalid federal restrictions.

This legislation provides legal protection for fully automatic weapons within the state of Idaho in the event of the federal ban being overturned or repealed.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the homestead property tax exemption.

RS33659 / H0885 This legislation clarifies who qualifies for the homestead exemption. Homeowners can't claim this exemption if they have a similar exemption in another state. Their Idaho license or I.D. must show the same address as the property they're claiming. Homeowners can also use an individual Idaho tax return for verification if it shows the same address. To maintain the exemption, they must also live in Idaho at least six months a year, unless they're serving in the military or on a religious mission. If a homeowner runs for office, their homestead address will qualify as their candidate residence address.

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

RS33730 / H0909 This appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of the State provides enhancements to the FY 2027 budget that include a onetime appropriation of $350,000 for a voter pamphlet, as well as an ongoing transfer of $20,000 from operating expenditures to personnel costs to provide overtime expenses in lieu of compensatory time for the post-election audit team.

Adds to existing law to establish a moratorium on certain uses of human gene therapy products.

This legislation establishes a temporary moratorium on the administration of certain human gene therapy products for infectious disease indications to children under eighteen (18) years of age and to pregnant women. The bill adds a new section to Chapter 48, Title 39, Idaho Code, to prohibit the administration of such products regardless of route or modality and regardless of whether the administration is termed an immunization, vaccine, or any other term. The legislation provides that the moratorium shall remain in effect for two (2) years while available safety data is reviewed. The moratorium does not apply to human gene therapy products used for the treatment or therapy of cancer or genetic disorders. The legislation further provides a process by which an individual human gene therapy product may be exempted from the moratorium upon legislative review of safety data, informed consent procedures, and compensation assurances for adverse outcomes.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act.

RS33735 / S1399 The purpose of this bill is to give consumers more options for transferring property upon their death. This bill adopts the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act in Idaho, authorizing an individual to execute and record a transfer-on-death deed for real property located in this state. The deed is revocable, does not transfer any present ownership interest during the transferor’s lifetime, and allows the property to pass to a designated beneficiary upon the transferor’s death outside of probate. The bill preserves the transferor’s full rights in the property during life and provides that transferred property remains subject to existing encumbrances and certain claims if the estate is insufficient. This legislation gives Idahoans an additional estate planning tool and aligns Idaho law with the growing number of states that permit transfer-on-death deeds.

Amends existing law to revise the salaries of state elective officers.

RS33715 / S1400 This legislation provides for a temporary reduction in the compensation of State Elective Officers of the Idaho Executive Branch for the 2027 calendar year. Idaho is currently facing declining revenue projections and is preparing for the estimated cost of conforming to upcoming federal tax changes. In response, the Governor has recommended a three percent reduction to state agency budgets for fiscal year 2027, and the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has added an additional two percent reduction, bringing the total reduction to five percent across most state agencies. These budget reductions, along with the decision not to provide salary increases for many state employees, place real financial pressure on Idaho’s citizens and public workforce. This legislation reflects the belief that elected officials should also share in those sacrifices. Under the Idaho Constitution, the Legislature is responsible for establishing compensation for State Elective Officers. This legislation therefore provides for a temporary five percent reduction in compensation for State Elective Officers beginning in January 2027 and ending in January 2028. The intent of this legislation is to ensure that elected officials share in the same financial realities currently facing the citizens and employees of the State of Idaho.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the punishment for rape.

RS33655 / S1414 The current penalty for the crime of rape in Idaho is a minimum of one year to a maximum of life. This legislation increases the minimum penalty from one year to five years and maintains the maximum penalty of life in prison. This brings the minimum penalty for rape in Idaho more in line with other states for this serious felony.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding Medicaid prior authorization exemptions for certain preceptorships.

This legislation establishes a prior authorization exemption for certain physicians who provide substantial preceptorship training to graduate medical students in Idaho, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Physicians practicing in primary care, psychiatry, or obstetrics and gynecology who provide at least 360 hours of qualifying preceptorship in a calendar year, with at least 60 percent of those hours occurring in qualified rural areas, are eligible for a twelve-month exemption from prior authorization requirements for medically necessary services billed to Idaho Medicaid managed care plans and state-contracted insurers. The bill directs the Department of Health and Welfare to verify reported preceptorship hours and administer the exemption and allows insurers to rescind exemptions if claims fail to meet medical necessity standards. Annual participation is limited to one hundred physicians per eligible specialty. The legislation is intended to encourage physician participation in training programs, strengthen Idaho's healthcare workforce pipeline, and improve access to care in rural and underserved areas.

Adds to exsiting law to establish the Idaho Prior Authorization Refom Act.

This legislation establishes the Idaho Prior Authorization Reform Act to improve transparency, consistency, and timeliness in prior authorization processes used by health insurers and utilization review organizations. The bill requires insurers to publicly disclose prior authorization requirements and clinical criteria, implement standardized electronic prior authorization processes, and comply with defined timelines for standard and expedited determinations. The legislation establishes notification and appeal standards, requires appropriately qualified clinical reviewers, sets minimum validity periods for approvals, provides continuity of approvals when coverage changes, and prohibits improper revocation of prior authorizations. The bill further provides enforcement authority to the Department of Insurance, requires annual reporting of prior authorization data, establishes penalties for noncompliance, and addresses fraudulent prior authorization requests. The legislation is intended to reduce administrative burden, improve patient access to medically necessary care, and provide clear standards for prior authorization practices in Idaho.