Idaho Bills

Idaho's H 260 exempts most groceries sold for home consumption from state sales tax, including items eligible for federal nutrition benefits. It explicitly excludes restaurant meals, heated food, pre-mixed ingredients, and food sold with utensils. The bill also revises how sales tax revenue is distributed, allocating $4.1 million annually to counties - split equally among all 44 counties plus a population-based portion - to cover election administration costs. This directly affects consumers purchasing eligible groceries and county governments managing election expenses.

HJR 2 proposes repealing Idaho's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage (Section 28, Article III) by submitting the change to voters. If approved, it would remove the prohibition, allowing same-sex couples to marry in Idaho. The bill directs the Secretary of State to publish the amendment and arguments for voter consideration at the next general election. This procedural resolution has been introduced but not yet voted on by the legislature.

H 68 removes a prohibition in Idaho law that previously prevented cities, counties, and other local governments (political subdivisions) from setting minimum wages higher than the state's $7.25 hourly rate. The bill amends Section 44-1502 of the Idaho Code by deleting subsection (4), which blocked local minimum wage ordinances. This change would allow municipalities or counties to establish higher minimum wages for workers within their jurisdictions. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, after being introduced in January 2025.

H 69, the "Motor Voter Act," automatically registers eligible Idaho voters when they apply for, renew, or correct a driver's license or state ID at a DMV office. Residents who qualify to vote (citizens aged 18+, residents of Idaho) are registered unless they opt out during the process. The DMV forwards completed registration forms weekly to county election offices, and voters can select a political party affiliation or choose "unaffiliated" on the form. This changes how voter registration is initiated, moving it from separate forms to routine DMV interactions while preserving the option to decline registration.

H 70 repeals Idaho Code §67-2340, which currently prevents local governments from regulating plastic bags and other auxiliary containers. This bill directly affects cities and counties in Idaho by removing the state's legal barrier to local ordinances restricting plastic bags. The key provision is the repeal of the preemption law, allowing municipalities to independently adopt rules on plastic bag use. The bill does not create new regulations but enables local decision-making on this issue. (This is a procedural bill, so the summary is concise.)

H 1 establishes a refundable Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit, allowing parents or legal guardians to claim up to $9,500 per qualifying child for education expenses at private schools, microschools, or learning pods. It directly affects Idaho families with children aged 5-19 who are not enrolled in public schools, covering tuition, materials, and transportation costs. The credit is refundable (meaning recipients get money back even if they owe no tax) and has an annual $250 million cap, with credits allocated on a first-come basis once the limit is reached. Expenses covered include curriculum, assessments, and transportation, but exclude public school costs or government grants.