H 326 amends Idaho law for highway districts in counties with over 200,000 residents, adding two appointed commissioners to the existing five elected positions. One commissioner is appointed by the governor (serving until 2028, then four-year terms) and one by county commissioners (serving until 2026, then four-year terms), with both having equal powers to elected commissioners but not representing specific subdistricts. The bill also updates vacancy procedures, requiring appointments within 30 days for both appointed and elected roles. This directly affects county highway boards in larger Idaho counties managing regional road infrastructure.
H 404 allows residential chicken ownership in Idaho for single-family homes on lots of at least 0.25 acres, directly affecting homeowners in these properties. It prohibits deed restrictions or covenants from banning chickens and permits homeowner associations to set reasonable rules about manure, odor, or roosters, while requiring owners to manage chicken health and liabilities. The bill does not apply to apartments, smaller lots, agricultural zones, or areas where local zoning already permits poultry.
Idaho's H 406 revises property tax exemptions for low-income housing owned by nonprofit organizations. To qualify, nonprofits must maintain IRS 501(c)(3) status and ensure all housing units meet specific income-based rent requirements: 55% of units for tenants earning ≤60% of local median income, 20% for ≤50%, and 25% for ≤30%. The bill also requires nonprofits to certify annual compliance with these rules and prohibits tenant evictions for three months after certified catastrophic medical events. The exemption applies to new properties after July 1, 2025, with limited exceptions for existing properties. This directly affects nonprofit housing providers and low-income renters in Idaho.
Idaho's H 405 requires all public school districts and charter schools to conduct annual independent inspections of school facilities for safety and health compliance, including specific testing for radon (in basements or radon-prone areas), mold (when moisture or visible signs exist), and lead (in pre-1978 buildings or with lead pipes). School boards must report violations to parents, staff, and state authorities, and fix unsafe conditions within a specified timeline, with fines up to $5,000 per violation for non-compliance. The bill directly affects Idaho's K-12 public schools and their governing boards by mandating these inspections, testing protocols, and reporting requirements. It updates existing safety standards to include modern health concerns like lead exposure and mold while establishing clear enforcement mechanisms.
H 176 amends Idaho law to revise residency requirements for medical education programs and establish transition rules for the WWAMI medical education program. The bill updates Section 33-3717B (residency rules) and adds Section 33-3732 to define how Idaho will manage its participation in the WWAMI program, which provides medical training across multiple western states. It directly affects students seeking medical degrees at Idaho public institutions, particularly regarding residency status eligibility and program transitions. The changes clarify how students qualify for in-state tuition and ensure structured governance for Idaho's medical education partnerships.
This Idaho bill (H 400) allows patients to provide their own blood or blood from a designated donor (like a family member) for their own transfusions, and prohibits healthcare providers from blocking this option. It directly affects patients needing blood transfusions and healthcare facilities. Key provisions require providers to allow such donations unless it would harm the donor or patient, there's insufficient time to arrange it before surgery, or the procedure is an emergency. The bill also shields providers from liability for using such blood, unless gross negligence caused harm, and confirms it aligns with federal blood laws. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
S 1169 (Idaho Code §23-903d) creates a new type of liquor license specifically for restaurants in Idaho cities. It allows cities to issue these licenses to restaurants that demonstrate at least 60% of their gross sales come from food (not alcohol) during the previous year, including food halls with multiple restaurants. The license cannot be sold, transferred, or used to operate as a bar, and cities must issue at least three but no more than the total licenses allowed under existing population rules. This bill directly affects city restaurants seeking liquor licenses and takes effect July 1, 2025.
S 1168 requires all new tablets and smartphones manufactured on or after January 1, 2026, sold in Idaho to include built-in internet filters that block harmful content for minors. The law mandates devices to verify user age during setup, automatically enable filters for minors, prevent VPN use, and notify parents if filters block content or bypass attempts. App stores must identify apps that could bypass parental controls or display harmful content, and apps with such capabilities require a password to download. This law applies to device manufacturers, app developers, and parents/guardians who can override filters with passwords, effective January 1, 2026.
Idaho's H 399 establishes new campaign finance transparency rules by creating a comprehensive Chapter 3 in Idaho Code. The bill requires candidates, political action committees (PACs), and political parties to disclose all contributions and expenditures, including the source of funds, and bans foreign contributions or electioneering communications. It mandates that campaign finance reports be certified by the Secretary of State, sets contribution limits for candidates, and requires political treasurers to manage funds and report spending. The law also prohibits coordination between candidates and independent spending groups and imposes penalties for violations, affecting all state and local election campaigns.
H 350 requires Idaho public school districts and public charter schools to use state education funds only for the specific purposes explicitly designated in law or appropriation bills. The bill mandates that misused funds must be reimbursed to the state, with failure to repay resulting in a deduction from the school's next state payment. It directly affects all schools receiving state education funding by enforcing strict budgetary accountability for designated purposes. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to prevent diversion of funds from their intended educational uses.
H 393 revises filing fees for candidates running for specific elected offices in Idaho, including U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and state-level positions like Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. The bill amends multiple sections of Idaho Code (34-604 through 34-623) to adjust the required fee amounts, which currently range from $200 to $1,000 for most offices. These changes directly affect individuals seeking to file candidacy for these positions in upcoming elections. The bill does not alter qualifications or election procedures, only the financial requirement for candidate registration.
Idaho's S 1166 restricts new or expanded homeless shelters in cities with over 100,000 residents (like Boise) by requiring them to be at least 300 feet away from residentially zoned properties or existing single-family homes. It defines "homeless shelter" broadly to include facilities providing temporary sleeping accommodations, regardless of operating hours. Existing shelters won’t need to relocate but cannot expand if it violates the 300-foot rule, and local governments must enforce this during zoning approvals. The bill also creates a 10-year application ban for denied shelter sites and allows exemptions if two-thirds of nearby property owners sign affidavits.
