Idaho Bills

H 507 updates Idaho's military justice system by revising outdated terminology to be gender-neutral and clarifying procedures for handling misconduct. It modifies rules around restraining military personnel, adjusts disciplinary actions short of court-martial, and updates requirements for legal officers (judge advocates) serving in the state military. These changes directly affect Idaho National Guard members, state military personnel on active duty, and their legal advisors under Idaho law. The bill modernizes legal language and processes without altering core military justice outcomes.

This bill (H 491) expands legal protection for people who provide emergency first aid without compensation. It ensures individuals offering good-faith first aid - including mental health or suicide crisis support - in accidents or emergencies cannot be sued for civil damages, unless proven grossly negligent. The immunity ends when care is transferred to a hospital, medical professional, or ambulance staff. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all Idaho residents receiving such aid.

This bill amends Idaho Code Section 67-7028 to clarify that county sheriffs and deputy sheriffs are primarily responsible for enforcing the Safe Boating Act. It specifies that law enforcement officers may stop and board vessels based on reasonable suspicion of a violation. The change directly affects sheriffs (as enforcers) and boaters (subject to enforcement actions), but does not alter prohibited boating activities or penalties. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2026, after being declared an emergency.

This bill creates a new excise tax on international money transfers originating in Idaho, charging a $5 fee plus 4% on amounts over $500 for each transaction. The tax applies to individuals sending money to recipients outside the United States through various methods like wire transfers or electronic payments, but exempts transactions where the sender uses their own bank account or can prove U.S. legal residence with valid identification. Money transmission companies must collect and remit the tax quarterly to the state, while senders receive receipts that explain how they can claim a refund or tax credit. The state tax commission will distribute the collected revenue, with amounts used for refunds going to the state refund account and the remainder funding the general fund.

This bill allows Idaho correctional officials to release certain illegal alien offenders from state custody before their sentences end, transferring them to federal immigration authorities for deportation. It applies only to individuals with fixed-term sentences, excluding those facing life imprisonment or the death penalty, and requires a final deportation order from the U.S. Attorney General before release can occur. Released offenders remain subject to their original sentences, with any remaining time tolled until they are arrested again or return to the United States illegally, and they must continue to pay court-ordered restitution. The law also mandates that victims receive written notice before release and prohibits future conditional release for anyone who illegally reenters the country. The provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill amends Idaho state budget law to clarify how agencies can spend non-state funds and establish rules for interagency transactions. It requires prior approval from financial management officials before agencies can use outside money like insurance settlements or capital asset sales, with a $10 million annual limit on such spending. The legislation also creates a formal interagency billing system allowing state agencies to charge each other for goods and services, while maintaining existing rules for agencies selling to the public. These changes aim to improve financial accountability and standardize how state agencies handle internal and external revenue streams.

This Idaho bill establishes the Financial Accountability Stablecoin Transaction (FAST) Act to authorize the state government to use privately issued payment stablecoins for paying vendors and contractors. The legislation defines eligible stablecoins as those backed one-to-one by U.S. dollars or Treasury obligations, meeting specific criteria including at least $2 billion in annual transaction volume and being issued by U.S.-based entities with U.S. citizen founders and shareholders. The state treasurer will maintain an annual list of approved stablecoins and submit reports to the legislature on transaction volumes, cost savings, and fiscal benefits, while vendors may voluntarily choose to receive payments in these digital currencies.

This bill updates Idaho laws governing homeowner's associations by clarifying meeting procedures, quorum requirements, and board member conflict of interest disclosures. It also establishes a new category called joint ownership associations and creates a mechanism for automatic conversion of existing homeowner's associations to this new type after ten years, unless members vote against the change. The legislation directly affects homeowners, property owners, and the boards that manage residential communities by standardizing how meetings are conducted and how fees are approved. Additionally, the bill requires associations to maintain meeting minutes for ten years and allows members to receive meeting notices electronically.

This bill updates Idaho's laws governing abatement districts, which are areas where local boards manage mosquito and other pest control to protect public health. It gives these boards new authority to hire staff, enter private lands for treatment, and work with other organizations on ditch maintenance to reduce mosquito breeding. The bill also allows property owners to opt out of district treatments by submitting their own pest control plans, provided they meet specific requirements. Additionally, it clarifies rules for using aerial pesticide spraying, which can only occur during declared health emergencies, and establishes procedures for creating temporary abatement districts during pest emergencies.

This bill expands Idaho's homestead property tax exemption to cover up to $125,000 of a home's market value or 50% of its value, whichever is less, for owner-occupied primary residences. To fund this expansion, the bill increases the state sales tax rate and directs the additional revenue to local taxing districts to offset property tax losses from the exemption. The legislation also establishes a new Homestead Property Tax Replacement Fund to manage the revenue shift and simplifies the application process by allowing homeowners to apply for the exemption only once if they continue to occupy the same property.

This bill requires the Idaho Legislative Services Office to conduct a return on investment analysis of the Idaho Launch Grant Program every two years. The analysis will examine how well the program connects students with high-demand careers, evaluates student outcomes like employment and wages, and assesses the quality of participating institutions. It involves collaboration with workforce development councils, eligible institutions, and industry representatives to gather data on labor market needs and student experiences. The results will be used to improve program alignment and help students and families make informed decisions about educational options. The bill includes a sunset date and declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

This bill proposes adding a new rule to the Idaho Legislature's operating procedures to designate specific Fridays as constituent days during regular legislative sessions. Under this rule, every Friday in an even-numbered week would be set aside for legislators to meet with their constituents, during which no legislative business would be conducted. The measure directly affects all Idaho state representatives and senators by creating a structured opportunity for them to connect with the public in their districts, particularly addressing concerns about accessibility for constituents in areas far from the state capital. This change aims to improve communication between lawmakers and the people they represent by formally scheduling dedicated time for constituent engagement within the legislative calendar.