Sign Up
H 493 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY – Amends existing law to revise the penalty for soliciting commercial sexual activity.

This bill (H 493) revises penalties for soliciting commercial sexual activity in Idaho. It directly affects individuals who pay, offer to pay, or arrange for others to engage in sexual contact for compensation. Key provisions set mandatory minimum jail terms: 5 days for those aged 18-20 (first offense, misdemeanor), increasing to 6 months for those 21+ (always a felony). The bill also specifies that courts cannot suspend or reduce these minimum sentences and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeSets mandatory minimum sentences without judicial discretion, increasing punitive measures for soliciting sex work per Idaho's sentencing structure.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026
Floor votes · House Feb 2, 2026

How they voted

46–18
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 65
Feb 2, 2026
D Democratic8
5 Yea 3 Nay
62% Yea
R Republican57
41 Yea 15 Nay 1
71% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 50-19-1AYES – Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. Spea
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.