OPEN MEETINGS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding requirements for open public meetings to permit recording of such meetings.
This bill amends Idaho's open meetings law to allow the public to record government meetings, including capturing audio, video, or photographs. It applies to all public agency governing bodies except for specific executive sessions and meetings held in correctional facilities or by the pardons and parole commission. The legislation also clarifies that recording cannot be used as a reason to remove or exclude attendees, while still permitting agencies to take reasonable steps to maintain order during meetings. Additionally, the bill permits meetings to be conducted via telecommunications devices like video conferencing, as long as at least one member remains physically present and communications remain audible to the public.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Mar 13, 2026
Signed Apr 2, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026 · House Mar 24, 2026
How they voted
34–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 36
Mar 31, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican30
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2AYES – Adams, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – Anthon, ToewsFloor Sponsor - HarrisTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 67-1-2AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Pal
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
lower
Mar 13, 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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