SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION – Amends existing law to provide that the commission be established in the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
H 503 moves the Idaho State Soil and Water Conservation Commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This change affects the commission members, soil conservation districts, and state agencies that collaborate with the commission on conservation programs. The bill primarily revises the commission's administrative home while maintaining its existing structure (seven members appointed by the governor from six geographic divisions and one at-large seat) and responsibilities, such as assisting conservation districts and managing the "Idaho OnePlan" conservation planning system. The key policy change is the departmental reassignment, with no alterations to the commission's duties or membership rules.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 20, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2026 · House Feb 20, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 16, 2026
D
Democratic5
100% Yea
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe), Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - HarrisTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Resources & Environment
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-0-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Rayb
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Agricultural Affairs
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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