H 146 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS – Adds to existing law to require the installation of light-mitigating technology systems on wind energy conversion systems.

This bill requires wind energy developers to install FAA-approved light-mitigating technology systems on wind turbines by specific deadlines. New projects must comply by July 1, 2025 (within 24 months of FAA approval), while existing projects must do so by January 1, 2026 (within 60 months of approval). The systems reduce aircraft lighting glare while maintaining visibility for pilots, with developers bearing all installation, operation, and maintenance costs. It applies to wind farms with five or more turbines over 50 feet tall.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Mar 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text Engrossment 1 · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill extends the deadline for installing light-mitigating technology on wind turbines from 24 months to 60 months and removes a specific requirement for delayed installations to provide updates every three months. The change gives wind energy developers more time to comply with aviation safety requirements while simplifying reporting obligations for delayed projects.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same, but the timeline for compliance has been significantly extended, and a specific enforcement mechanism for delayed installations has been removed.
TIMELINE

The deadline for installing light-mitigating technology on approved wind turbines was extended from 24 months to 60 months following federal aviation administration approval.

ENFORCEMENT

The specific requirement for developers to provide quarterly updates on delayed installations was removed, replaced with a more general requirement to provide notice when delays occur.

REQUIREMENT

The language regarding delayed installation requirements was simplified to remove the specific 24-month reference and the quarterly update mandate.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Mar 25, 2025
Signed into law
Reported Signed by Governor on March 24, 2025 Session Law Chapter 153 Effective: 03/24/2025
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 57 Nays 5 Abs/Excd 8, read in full as required – PASSED - 52-11-7AYES – Achilles, Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Berch, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum(Phillips), Church, Clow, Cornilles, Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Fuhriman, Furniss, Gannon, Garner, Handy, Harris, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, Horman, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redm
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Concurred in Senate Amendments
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Amendments ordered printed
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Resources & Environment
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 55-10-5AYES – Achilles, Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Berch, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Clow, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Gannon, Garner, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Horman, Hostetler, Marmon, Mathias, McCann(Mosman), Mendive, Miller, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Shirts, Thompson, Vand
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Transportation & Defense
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.